Dr. Mary-Ann Stephenson, the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has called on campaigners to “judge me on what I do” following backlash from LGBTQ+ groups over her appointment. Critics, including Stonewall and TransActual, expressed concern over her past support for gender-critical views, though Stephenson maintains her actions were rooted in a commitment to freedom of expression and democratic rights. A primary challenge for her new role is finalizing guidance on single-sex spaces, following a Supreme Court ruling that defined sex as biological for such services. Stephenson emphasized the need to balance the rights of all protected groups, stating that while single-sex services must be based on biological sex, everyone must still have access to the services they need.
Date: December 31, 2025. Source: theguardian.com