Mary-Ann Stephenson is a British politician and anti-trangender activist. Stephenson has been connected to FiLiA and other gender critical groups.
Stephenson was the UK government’s preferred 2025 candidate for the new chair of the independent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The announcement led to protests.
Background
Stephenson earned a doctorate from the University of Warwick.
Stephenson has served as the director of the Women’s Budget Group and has worked for women’s equality and human rights for over twenty years as a campaigner, researcher and trainer.
Stephenson was previously Director of the Fawcett Society and a Commissioner on the Women’s National Commission.
Stephenson is a founder member of Coventry Women’s Voices and a board member at Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.
References
Grimes, Gary (June 10. 2025). Petition launched against UK government’s preferred candidate for chair of EHRC due to ‘anti-trans views.’ Attitude https://www.attitude.co.uk/news/uk/ehrc-mary-ann-stephenson-petition-484986/
Anti-trans coverage
Swinford, Steven (July 11, 2025). MPs oppose Starmer’s gender-critical pick for equality watchdog. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/mary-ann-stephenson-gender-critical-trans-v2tq2cmvw
Martin, Daniel (July 1, 2025). Labour’s pick to chair equalities watchdog backs gender-critical feminists. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/01/labours-equalities-chair-backs-gender-critical-feminists/
UK Government (5 June 2025). Government announces preferred candidate for Chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-preferred-candidate-for-chair-of-equality-and-human-rights-commission
WBG (17th February 2020). FiLiA meets: Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson. https://www.wbg.org.uk/article/filia-meets-mary-ann-stephenson/
Resources
Just Fair (justfair.org.uk)
- Mary-Ann Stephenson
- justfair.org.uk/amo-team/mary-ann-stephenson
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
X/Twiiter (x.com)
- maryanncv8 [deleted]