After losing his seat in Canada’s spring election, where his party collapsed in the polls and failed to achieve official party status, former leader Jagmeet Singh stepped aside as head of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Now, Canada’s nominally social democratic party has launched a leadership race. Contest rules released two weeks ago include a stipulation for signature collection that doubled as a rage-baiting giveaway to right-wing culture warriors and enjoyed the dubious distinction of turning the NDP into a lightning rod on social media for a day or two.

Leadership candidates will require five hundred signatures for their nomination, with at least half coming from individuals who do not identify as “cisgendered men.” Moreover, at least one hundred signatures must come from equity-seeking groups. That rule caught a lot of attention and headlines, obscuring the fact that candidates must raise $100,000 to run, considerably more than the 2017 contest’s $30,000 requirement.

For a social democratic movement to be both successful and just, it must be broad and inclusive. It ought to be taken as an article of faith that where individual and collective rights are under assault from the state, the free market, or others who’d oppress any person or category of persons based on their class, gender, race, sexuality or ability, the Left should show up to fight for them, right up to the hilt. The pursuit of democratic control over work and an equitable and fair distribution of power and resources should not be divorced from other rights protections, especially minority rights. In short, we shouldn’t be willing or ready to sell out anyone in the fight for justice.