TERF

Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist — a label for people who claim feminist politics while excluding trans women from women's spaces, rights, and protections. TERFs reject the idea that trans women are women, often framing this as protecting "biological women."

The label "TERF" is accurate as a description of a political position, though some figures in the movement reject it and prefer "gender-critical." TERF ideology is widely regarded as a form of transphobia — it justifies discrimination against trans people, including exclusion from healthcare, bathrooms, shelters, and sports.

TERF rhetoric has gained mainstream traction in the UK in particular, fueling debates over gender recognition and healthcare access. The vast majority of LGBTQ+ organizations reject TERF ideology as harmful and anti-trans.