Ani O’Brien vs. transgender people

Ani O’Brien is a British-Kiwi marketer, sex segregationist, lesbian separatist, and anti-transgender activist. O’Brien holds “gender critical” views and has been involved in anti-trans organizations, including being a founding member of Free Speech Union New Zealand. O’Brien has also been involved with LGB International and Speak Up For Women.

Background

Angharad “Ani” O’Brien was born in the United Kingdom and migrated to New Zealand.

O’Brien wrote: “On International Men’s Day I try to ignore the nonsense online and think of my wonderful father — the only true parent I’ve had — and the other decent men in my life. Having a single father who has been incredible to me and my sisters has made me a fierce feminist with an appreciation for good male allyship.”

O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Auckland in 2013 and a diploma from the Marketing Association New Zealand in 2018.

From 2010 to 2014, O’Brien worked at Les Mills New Zealand. From 2015 to 2017, O’Brien was a marketing and fundraising coordinator for SPCA Auckland. After working as a digital marketing specialist for Panasonic from 2017 to 2019 and the Department of Conservation from 2019 to 2021, O’Brien served in a similar role for the center-right New Zealand National Party. In April 2021 O’Brien became a Senior Media and Research Advisor to the party, and in August 2021 O’Brien moved into the role of Director of Digital. During this period O’Brien worked closely with party leader Judith Collins and later served as Collins’s press secretary. Following Collins’s removal as party leader in November 2021, O’Brien departed Parliament.

In December 2021 it was reported that O’Brien had joined broadcaster Sean Plunket’s new media venture, The Platform NZ, as head of digital operations. O’Brien’s time there became the subject of an Employment Relations Authority dispute after O’Brien alleged an unsafe workplace and unfair treatment; hearings were held in 2023 and received extensive media coverage.

After working as a consultant in 2022, O’Brien became general manager of The Campaign Company.

O’Brien identifies as lesbian.

Anti-trans activism

In 2022, O’Brien outlined various positions on trans and gender diverse people. identifying two key issues: “how trans activism and its manifestation in policy and law impacts on women and the transitioning of children.” O’Brien outlined other concerns and opinions:

“how a small number of activists are dictating how we should conceptualise sex, gender, and identity.”
“‘Tomboys’ are not broken girls and effeminate boys aren’t defective.”
“Of particular concern to me is the effect paediatric transition has on young gays and lesbians. I am a lesbian myself and I worry a lot for girls like me.”
“The idea that being a woman is reduced simply to ‘opting in’ is highly misogynistic.”
“The narrative that there is no difference between the physical abilities of the sexes and so sport should be based on self-identity rather than sex is patently ridiculous.”
“The issue that makes me proper angry is the way lesbians and gays have been redefined.”

On February 26, 2019, O’Brien spoke on sex self-identification at the Speak Up For Women event with Alison Heather, Rosa Freedman, and Julia Norman.

References

Staff report (April 28, 2026). Spotlight on Ani O’Brien of the Campaign Company. Te Ata Tino Toa https://teatatinotoa.substack.com/p/spotlight-on-ani-obrien-of-the-campaign

Singh, Harpeet (November 1, 2025). The Campaign Company: The Digital Engine Behind NZ’s Right-Wing Advocacy. DHS’s Stack https://drhsinghnz.substack.com/p/the-campaign-company-the-digital

Farrier, David (June 15, 2025). The Life and Death of Alex. Web Worm https://www.webworm.co/lifeanddeathofalex/

Staff report (February 28, 2019). Speak Up For Women welcomes deferral of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Bill. RNZ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/383461/speak-up-for-women-welcomes-deferral-of-the-births-deaths-marriages-and-relationships-registration-bill

Anti-trans coverage

Staff report (September 28, 2025). LGB groups split from trans movement as US officials drop the ‘T.’ Centrist https://centrist.nz/lgb-groups-split-from-trans-movement-as-us-officials-drop-the-t/

Selected writing by O’Brien

O’Brien, Ani (November 18, 2025). IOC moving toward ban on transgender athletes is a moment of truth – Ani O’Brien. New Zealand Herald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ioc-moving-toward-ban-on-transgender-athletes-is-a-moment-of-truth-ani-obrien/premium/SCYHUVXTLZDLXPPJJ2S3EO64EU/

O’Brien, Ani (March 16, 2022). Another clarification of my opinions. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/another-clarification-of-my-opinions-991190ad81dc

O’Brien, Ani (October 20, 2020). A response to Judith Butler. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/a-response-to-judith-butler-c127c62b0fc

O’Brien, Ani (October 1, 2020). A few questions, Prime Minister. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/a-few-questions-prime-minister-1799b26fcc9

O’Brien, Ani (March 7, 2020). Fairness fades away as Laurel Hubbard lifts the ‘Oppression Olympics’ gold medal. Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/120029186/2020-tokyo-olympics-committee-has-bowed-to-pressure-to-include-trans-weight-lifter-in-womens-category

O’Brien, Ani (February 15, 2020). I won’t stand by while ‘woman’ becomes a dirty word. Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/119448330/i-wont-stand-by-while-woman-becomes-a-dirty-word

O’Brien, Ani (November 16, 2019). Feminism 2020 Wellington Speech, 15th November 2019, New Zealand Parliament. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/feminism-2020-wellington-speech-901933cfde00

O’Brien, Ani (October 26, 2019). Making room — human rights are not a pie: Making room for trans people in society. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/making-room-human-rights-are-not-a-pie-9519c02bc67e

O’Brien, Ani (October 19, 2019). Why I invited Meghan Murphy to speak in New Zealand. Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/116499216/why-i-invited-meghan-murphy-to-speak-in-new-zealand

O’Brien, Ani (June 27, 2019). No. You may not take our sport. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/no-you-may-not-take-our-sports-29bb9a6a3c0e

O’Brien, Ani (June 3, 2019). Kicking the hornets’ nest: Adrienne Rich’s ‘Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.’ Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/kicking-the-hornets-nest-baf8e34f971c

O’Brien, Ani (May 8, 2019). Fundamentally misunderstanding gender critical feminism. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/fundamentally-misunderstanding-gender-critical-feminism-baebb2e953e3

O’Brien, Ani (March 10, 2019). The Ministry for Rainbow Communities: Or ‘How to make discrimination against lesbians more systemic.’ Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/the-ministry-for-rainbow-communities-38f13e45177f

O’Brien, Ani (March 8, 2019). ‘Let’s Talk About Sex Self-ID.’ Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/lets-talk-about-sex-self-id-6e617404bac3

O’Brien, Ani (January 3, 2019). A right to compete? A gender critical response. Medium https://aniobrien.medium.com/a-right-to-compete-a-gender-critical-response-62b759e2d1f5

Media

Family First New Zealand / Family Matters with Simon O’Connor and Ani O’Brien (May 27, 2026). Family Matters: Ani O’Brien on the toughest political question today – what is a woman? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ooyqmCBIX8

The Good Oil Podcast with Cameron Slater and Ani O’Brien (February 29, 2024). The Crunch – ANI O’BRIEN: Women’s Rights Activist: On The Erosion Of Free Speech And The TERF Wars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SYOC4M4EX0

Free Speech Union New Zealand with Rachel Poulain and Ani O’Brien (August 8, 2022). Episode 1: Rachel Poulain interviews Ani O’Brien (Speak Up for Women). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=himSAjUh8S0

Calmversations with Benjamin Boyce and Ani O’Brien (January 28, 2021). When The Left Left Women | with Ani O’Brien. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dbe3r4H2Cw

The Same Drugs with Meghan Murphy and Ani O’Brien (Feb 12, 2021). Ani O’Brien on the problem with modern feminism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFNY5qXsDlE

The Speak Up For Women Podcast with Ani O’Brien and Daphna Whitmore (September 25, 2020). 9. Well, what a week – Dedicated to Magdalen Berns. https://www.listennotes.com/et/podcasts/the-speak-up-for/9-well-what-a-week-dedicated-9GpL6IcaZPD/?srsltid=AfmBOop8CSGi5D5wGU9NLDAgklFyXwwJ_YvBO1R5mObkbF1uqRDECRn7

Speak Up for Women NZ with Ani O’Brien (December 1, 2019). Ani O’Brien Feminism 2020 Speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ENOdl5-LxM

Speak Up for Women NZ with Ani O’Brien (March 3, 2019). Ani O’Brien, Speak Up For Women event, 26 Feb 19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvGNowjns9A