Mumsnet vs. transgender people

Mumsnet is a British online forum. Originally set up as a place for discussing parenting, it gradually became a toxic anti-transgender online community best known as a radicalizing hub for anti-transgender extremism.

Background

Mumsnet was created in 2000 by Justine Roberts with Carrie Longton and Steven Cassidy. As its influence grew, it became known for hosting conversations with political candidates and figures, who would answer questions from members.

Anti-trans activism

Starting in late 2009 and early 2010, discussions of women’s rights that had previously been scattered throughout the forum were centralized in a specialized subforum. By 2011, there were dedicated threads to transgender topics, like “Feminist perspectives on transgendered people.” By 2012, Mumsnet HQ was actively managing trans-related discussion threads, as noted in “New Trans thread as requested by HQs.”

By the late 2010s, the discussion had become so toxic that founder Justine Roberts created a page outlining their moderation princliples:

“To try to create a more civil and mutually respectful conversation, we are spelling out a few principles for how discussions about trans issues will be moderated on Mumsnet.

We believe in free speech and civil debate. So we will, for instance, allow people to discuss biology and scientific evidence.

We don’t allow posts which are derogatory or aggressive towards trans people. We believe there are ways to express both opinion and facts without crossing this line.

Sweeping negative generalisations about any group, including trans people and gender-critical feminists, won’t be tolerated.

Free speech by definition applies to all; for a debate to take place, opposing views which follow our Talk guidelines need to be tolerated, even if you disagree with them.

We won’t allow aggressive or rude behaviour towards our moderation team.”

In 2018, Edie Miller wrote:

“Despite having committed to cracking down on transphobia, Mumsnet in general has become a hotbed of transphobic rhetoric, and it’s easy to see how women using the website for information about cafes with the best changing facilities in their town could get sucked into the deeply cynical discussions that are being conducted there by people who claim to be worried only for their safety. Unlike the ideas of the U.K. skeptics movement, which I think explicitly helped to incubate trans exclusive politics, Mumsnet is to British transphobia more like what 4Chan is to American fascism. The tendencies were already there, but a messageboard to amplify them and recruit people to the cause never hurts.”

In 2019, Sophie Lewis noted:

“There, the most vocal trans-exclusionary voices are, ostensibly, “feminist” ones, and anti-trans lobbying is a mainstream activity. Case in point: [Kellie-Jay Keen] told the podcast “Feminist Current” that she’d changed her thinking on trans women after spending time on Mumsnet, a site where parents exchange tips on toilet training and how to get their children to eat vegetables.”

A number of prominent anti-trans activists were radicalized via Mumsnet. The founders for For Women Scotland noted that they all met in the forum.

“Unknown to each other until about six years ago, the trio of middle-aged, middle-class (although Denny-born farmer’s wife, Trina, would baulk at that description) women came together, ostensibly in the so-called radicalising chat rooms of Mumsnet, over mutual concerns about the way gender recognition reforms – specifically the ability for any man to self-identify as a woman – could impact on women’s single-sex spaces.”

Participants and supporters

Notable anti-trans figures who have participated in Mumsnet under their own names include Kemi Badenoch, Rosie Duffield, Helen Joyce, Jo Phoenix, and Kathleen Stock. Anti-trans extremists J.K. Rowling and Graham Linehan have posted links promoting the forum.

References

Jameela, Maryam (September 24, 2025). Wes Streeting unleashes transphobic diatribe on cesspool Mumsnet. The Canary https://www.thecanary.co/opinion/2025/09/24/wes-streeting-toilets-transphobic/

Berge, PS, Schmalzer, Madison (September 15, 2025). “I Took a Deep Breath and Came Out as GC”: Gender Critical Storytelling, Radicalization, and Discursive Practice on Ovarit and Mumsnet. Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies 4 (1-3): https://doi.org/10.57814/wjd7-w023 alt version https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2024i0.13903

Gibbs, Aly (September 24, 2025). Wes Streeting Suggests Segregating Trans People. Assigned Media https://assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/wes-streeting-suggests-segregating-trans-people/

Staff report (September 22, 2025). Wes Streeting criticised for ‘callous’ trans women segregation comments in Mumsnet interview. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/09/22/wes-streeting-trans-segregation-accusations/

King, Ben; Cole, Hollie (April 19, 2025). Ocado apologises to Mumsnet over ‘hateful political views’ comment. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wdmz01m7o

Cockerell, Claudia (April 19, 2025). Boycotted by Ocado: why is Mumsnet so controversial? The Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/why-mumsnet-controversial-ocado-b1223297.html

Gibbs, Aly (January 12, 2024). Disgusting Transphobic Labour Leader Set Upon By Disgusting Transphobes. Assigned Media https://assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/transphobic-labour-accused-of-having-trans-kid/

Urquhart, Evan (July 9, 2023). Trans Women Breastfeeding: Behind the Conservative Meltdown. Assigned Media https://assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/trans-women-breastfeeding-behind-the-conservative-meltdown/

Billard, T. J. (2023). “Gender-Critical” Discourse as Disinformation: Unpacking TERF Strategies of Political Communication. Women’s Studies in Communication, 46(2), 235–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2023.2193545

Neame, Katie (December 12, 2022). Labour warned relationship with trans people could be “irreversibly fractured.” LabourList https://labourlist.org/2022/12/labour-warned-relationship-with-trans-people-could-be-irreversibly-fractured/

Salmon, Caspar (November 3, 2022). What was Keir Starmer thinking with his Mumsnet reply? The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-starmer-mumsnet-trans-rights-lgbt-abortion-b2216792.html

Hansford, Amelia (November 2, 2022). Keir Starmer urged to explain trans rights stance after worrying Mumsnet interview. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/11/02/keir-starmers-mumsnet-interview-trans/

Milton, Josh (April 28, 2022). Chancellor Rishi Sunak told trans people deserve respect after ‘unseemly’ Mumsnet interview. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/04/28/rishi-sunak-trans-rights/

Wakefield, Lily (February 2, 2022). Graham Linehan wades into ‘mums in politics’ Mumsnet webchat to grill MPs on Eddie Izzard. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/02/02/mumsnet-trans-graham-linehan-stella-creasy-caroline-nokes-eddie-izzard/

Maurice, Emma Powys (November 30, 2020). Breastfeeding charity attacked for supporting trans and non-binary parents who just want to feed their children. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/11/30/mumsnet-la-leche-league-breastfeeding-charity-trans-men-women-inclusive-chestfeeding/

Milton, Josh (June 23, 2020). Drag queen doxxed and threatened with crucifixion by Mumsnet users all because she wanted to read books to children. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/06/23/drag-queen-story-hour-uk-aida-h-dee-sab-samuel-leeds-city-council-sarah-field-mumsnet/

Penny, Eleanor (April 8, 2020). Filth: Trans Bathroom Panics May Be New, but Public Toilets Have Always Been a Political Battleground. Novara Media https://novaramedia.com/2020/04/08/filth-trans-bathroom-panics-may-be-new-but-public-toilets-have-always-been-a-political-battleground/

Duffy, Nick (February 5, 2020). Emily Thornberry uses ‘shameful’ past views towards trans people to teach Mumsnet users about tolerance. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/02/05/emily-thornberry-trans-mumsnet-tolerance-views-labour-leadership-prisons/

Duffy, Nick (January 21, 2020). Jess Phillips quits Labour leadership race after gay bar rally and fiery Mumsnet trans row. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/01/21/jess-phillips-quits-labour-leadership-race-gay-bar-rally-trans-rights-mumsnet/

Duffy, Nick (December 6, 2019). John McDonnell tells Mumsnet he wants a ‘proper and considered discussion’ about transgender people. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/12/06/john-mcdonnell-labour-mumsent-transgender-people-considered-discussioin-gender-recognition-act/

Parsons, Vic (December 5, 2019). Lib Dem politician Phillip Lee says trans prisoners should be segregated during car crash Mumsnet interview. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/12/05/phillip-lee-mumsnet-transgender-people-segregated-prisons-liberal-democrats/

Parsons, Vic (October 15, 2019). Gender-critical feminist Posie Parker in video with white nationalist YouTuber – and a lot of Mumsnet users are fine with it. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/15/gender-critical-posie-parker-interview-jean-francois-gariepy-mumsnet/

Lothian-MacLean, Moya (October 14, 2019. Mumsnet users declare Flora margarine boycott after brand cuts ties over claims of transphobia. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/mumsnet-transphobic-flora-upfield-boycott-a9155016.html

Zaidi, Afroze Fatima (October 12, 2019). Flora ends partnership with Mumsnet over transphobia concerns. The Canary https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2019/10/12/flora-ends-partnership-with-mumsnet-over-transphobia-concerns/

Parsons, Vic (July 8, 2019). Mumsnet users boycott Co-op over strawberries ad featuring trans woman. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/07/08/mumsnet-users-boycott-co-op-strawberry-ad-trans-woman/

Lewis, Sophie (February 7, 2019). Opinion | How British Feminism Became Anti-Trans. New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/opinion/terf-trans-women-britain.html

Livingston, Eve (December 8, 2018). How an Online Forum for Moms Became a Toxic Hotbed of Transphobia. VICE https://www.vice.com/en/article/mumsnet-uk-mom-forum-terf-transphobia-feminism/

Duffy, Nick (November 20, 2018). Katie Hopkins mocks Transgender Day of Remembrance for murder victims. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/11/20/katie-hopkins-transgender-day-of-remembrance/

Tait, Amelia (November 19, 2018). Mumsnet moderators are struggling to find the line between free speech and transphobia. Wired https://www.wired.com/story/mumsnet-moderators-trans-rights-debate/

Miller, Edie (November 5, 2018). Why Is British Media So Transphobic? The Outline https://theoutline.com/post/6536/british-feminists-media-transphobic

Ntim, Zac (June 13, 2018). Mumsnet brings in tougher forum rules after transgender row. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jun/13/mumsnet-transgender-row-feminism-tougher-forum-rules

Glass, Jess (June 13, 2018). Mumsnet takes stance on anti-trans posts: ‘We believe in free speech.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/06/13/mumsnet-trans-rights-free-speech-feminism/

Woodhead, Hannah (April 30, 2018). Has Mumsnet become a hub of online transphobia? Huck Magazine https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/opinion-perspectives/mumsnet-transphobia-online/

Duffy, Nick (April 23, 2018). Cabinet minister Liz Truss backs Mumsnet in transgender row as users call for ‘new Section 28.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/04/23/cabinet-minister-liz-truss-backs-mumsnet-in-transgender-row-as-users-call-for-new-section-28/

Duffy, Nick (April 20, 2018). Mumsnet chaos as whistleblower exposes users backing ‘new Section 28 for transgenderism.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/04/20/mumsnet-whistleblower-transgender-section-28/

Roberts, Scott (September 24, 2014). Mumsnet piles pressure on Education Secretary over compulsory sex education. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2014/09/24/mumsnet-piles-pressure-on-education-secretary-over-compulsory-sre/

Anti-trans coverage

Bagehot, Walter (May 6, 2025). How Mumsnet changed Britain. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/03/06/how-mumsnet-changed-britain

Smith, Davina (April 25, 2025). Happy birthday to angry, Terfy Mumsnet. The Spectator https://spectator.com/article/happy-birthday-to-angry-terfy-mumsnet/

Freeman, Hadley; Urwin, Rosamund; Yorke, Harry; Turvill, William; Hauschild, Dominic (April 19, 2025). “Supreme Court victors getting death threats in gender ruling backlash. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/women-threatened-statues-defaced-supreme-court-trans-mwv6dvpz2

Gibbons, Amy (April 18, 2025). Trans boycott nearly put us out of business, says Mumsnet founder. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/18/trans-boycott-nearly-put-out-business-mumsnet-founder/

Hull, Liz (April 18, 2025). Mumsnet founder reveals she was blacklisted ‘by Barclays’ and Ocado and branded a ‘bigot’ for standing up for women’s rights to access single-sex spaces as she welcomes trans ruling. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-14625385/Mumsnet-founder-feared-platform-cancelled.html

Hull, Liz (April 18, 2025). Ocado apologises to Mumsnet founder after online shop claimed website spread ‘hateful political views’ as it stood up for women’s rights to single-sex spaces. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-14626353/Ocado-apologises-Mumsnet-claimed-website-spread-hateful-political-views.html

Littman, Lisa (January 4, 2025). Does your teen think they’re trans? Mumsnet https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/nonmember_requests/5306325-does-your-teen-think-theyre-trans

Barnes, Hannah (June 12, 2024). Politicians ignore the Mumsnet manifesto at their peril. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/politicians-ignore-the-mumsnet-manifesto-at-their-peril

Rhodes, Mandy (March 12, 2024). The women who wouldn’t wheesht: For Women Scotland on gender reform. Holyrood https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,the-women-who-wouldnt-wheesht

Bartosch, Jo (November 2, 2022). Trans lunacy has blinded the left. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/11/02/trans-lunacy-has-blinded-the-left/

McBain, Sophie (May 18, 2022). Mumsnet’s founder Justine Roberts: “It is a place where women can speak the truth.” The parenting forum has become a powerful political force, and has been repeatedly accused of transphobia. Its CEO explains why she believes in “difficult conversations.” New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2022/05/mumsnet-founder-justine-roberts-interview

Murray, Jenni (March 3, 2022). In defence of Mumsnet: It should not be surprising that the site’s contributors are interested in trans and women’s rights. Prospect https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/38415/in-defence-of-mumsnet

Le Conte, Marie (February 4, 2022). Feminism has been reduced to the transgender debate. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2022/02/feminism-has-been-reduced-to-the-transgender-debate

Baker, Katie J.M. (January 2021). The Road to Terfdom: Mumsnet and the Fostering of Anti-Trans Radicalization. Lux https://lux-magazine.com/article/the-road-to-terfdom/

Tiffany, Kaitlyn (December 8, 2020). The Secret Internet of TERFs. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/12/reddit-ovarit-the-donald/617320/

Nobre, Andreia (June 7, 2020). GMB “Pauses” Collaboration with Mumsnet. 4W https://4w.pub/gmb-pauses-collaboration-with-mumsnet/

Nobre, Andreia (May 29, 2020). GMB “Pauses” Collaboration With Mumsnet in Online Q&A Series About Work. Uncommon Ground Media https://uncommongroundmedia.com/gmb-pauses-collaboration-with-mumsnet/

Ffiske, Caroline (February 19, 2020). Who will defend women’s rights from the Trans lobby? The Article https://www.thearticle.com/who-will-defend-womens-rights-from-the-trans-lobby

Manning, Sanchez; Wace, Charlotte (October 14, 2019). Furious mothers boycott Flora margarine after it pulls its adverts from Mumsnet in ‘transphobia’ row following complaints from a ‘handful’ of transgender activists. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-7566795/Mothers-boycott-Flora-margarine-pulls-adverts-Mumsnet-transaphobia-row.html

Staff report (April 11, 2019). Mumsnet reveals name of user in transgender row. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47894932

Forstater, Maya (March 27, 2019). Has Penny Mordaunt got away with the worst Mumsnet performance ever? The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/penny-mourdant-mumsnet-gender-recognition-act-a8835621.html

Waterson, Jim (April 19, 2018). Mumsnet reports itself to data regulator over transgender rights row. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/apr/19/mumsnet-reports-itself-data-regulator-transgender-rights-row-ip-addresses-posted-twitter

Kirkup, James (April 17, 2018). If Mumsnet can stand up for free speech, why can’t MPs? The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/if-mumsnet-can-stand-up-for-free-speech-why-can-t-mps/

Selected writing by Mumsnet

Mumsnet HQ (June 3, 2024). GE24: The Mumsnet Manifesto. https://www.mumsnet.com/news/ge24-mumsnet-manifesto

Roberts, Justine (June 13, 2018; updated June 3, 2025). Mumsnet moderation principles for discussions around gender identity and sex. https://www.mumsnet.com/i/trans-rights-moderation-policy

Books

Mumsnet (2024). Am I Being Unreasonable?: Real-Life Dilemmas and Top-Rated Answers from the Users of Mumsnet. Aurum, ISBN 978-0711298224.

Mumsnet / Bower, Iona [editor] (2017). How to Blitz Nits and Other Nasties: Mumsnet’s Practical Parenting. Bloomsbury, ISBN 978-1408862155

Mumsnet / Rosen, Michael [editor] (2013). The Mumsnet Book of Bedtime Stories: Ten Prize-winning Stories from Mumsnet and Gransnet. Walker Books, ISBN 978-1406347173

Mumsnet / McDonald, Lucy; McDonald, Claire (2014). Top Bananas!: The Best Ever Family Recipes from Mumsnet. Bloomsbury, ASIN B017POOM6Q

Mumsnet / Joffe, Natasha; Roberts, Justine [editors] (2012). Why Did Nobody Tell Me?: Home Truths Every Parent Needs to Know (Mumsnet). Bloomsbury, ISBN 978-1408822265

Mumsnet / Joffe, Natasha; Roberts, Justine [editors] (2011). The Mumsnet Rules. Bloomsbury, ISBN 978-1408808481

Mumsnet / Longton, Carrie; Roberts, Justine [editors] (2010). Babies: The Mumsnet Guide: The Answers to Everything. Bloomsbury, ISBN 978-1408801482

Mumsnet / Longton, Carrie; Roberts, Justine [editors] (2009). Pregnancy: The Mumsnet Guide: The Answers to Everything. Bloomsbury, ISBN 978-0747598633

Mumsnet / Longton, Carrie; Roberts, Justine [editors] (2009). Toddlers: The Mumsnet Guide: The Answers to Everything. Bloomsbury ISBN 978-0747595885