Skip to content

Michael Foran vs. transgender people

Michael Foran is an Irish legal scholar and anti-transgender activist. Foran is involved with anti-trans organizations Sex Matters and Women’s Rights Network and has written for anti-trans publication The Critic and on a personal Substack.

Background

Michael P. Foran was born in Ireland and reportedly “grew up in one of the most deprived areas.” Foran earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College Dublin in 2016, then earned a master’s degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2017. Foran earned a doctorate from University of Cambridge in 2020.

From 2020 to 2022, Foran was a Lecturer in Public Law at University of Strathclyde. From 2022 to 2025
Lecturer in Public Law at University of Glasgow. In 2025, Oxford University appointed Foran as a Tutorial Fellow in Law at Keble College as well as an Associate Professor of Law.

Sex, Gender Identity and the Law (2026)

In 2026, Foran released the book Sex, Gender Identity and the Law.

Foran was involved in several events promoting the book. A panel organized in part by Naomi Cunningham and Sonia Sodha included Simon Cheetham, Julius Grower, Karon Monaghan, and Peter Ramsey.

Podcast

In 2024, Foran launched the Knowing Ius podcast. Guests have included Naomi Cunningham, Ronan McCrea, Timothy Pitt-Payne, Kathleen Stock, Sarah Vine

References

Staff report (June 10, 2026). University Associate Professor of Law cancels remaining lectures following protests against transphobia. Oxford Student https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2026/06/10/university-associate-professor-of-law-cancels-remaining-lectures-following-protests-against-transphobia/

Mohammed, Anisha (June 9, 2026). Oxford law academic cancels lecture series on sex and gender following protests. Cherwell https://www.cherwell.org/2026/06/09/oxford-law-academic-cancels-lecture-series-on-sex-and-gender-following-protests/

Simpson, Matt (June 8, 2026). Oxford University lectures disrupted by trans activists. Oxford Mail https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/26175372.oxford-university-lectures-disrupted-trans-activists/

Ward, Sarah (December 12, 2025). Peggie judgment did not take gender ruling into account properly, says academic. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/court-of-session-supreme-court-scotland-kirkcaldy-dundee-b2883377.html

Anti-trans coverage

Thompson, Max (June 10, 2026). Oxford professor cancels lecture series after pro-trans activist abuse. Free Speech Union https://freespeechunion.org/news/oxford-professor-cancels-lecture-series-after-pro-trans-activist-abuse

Packer, Helen (June 9, 2026). Hague: Oxford lectures cancelled over protests should go ahead. Times Higher Education https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/hague-oxford-lectures-cancelled-over-protests-should-go-ahead

Attenborough, Freddie (June 9, 2026). The screaming spires: Oxford University must clarify where it stands on academic freedom. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-screaming-spires/

Thompson, Max (June 9, 2026). Trans activism has turned Oxford into a toxic wasteland of censorship. Spiked https://www.spiked-online.com/2026/06/09/trans-activism-has-turned-oxford-into-a-toxic-wasteland-of-censorship/

Osborne, Jason (June 8, 2026). Irish prof cancelled at Oxford: Woke is definitely not dead. Gript https://gript.ie/irish-prof-cancelled-at-oxford-woke-is-definitely-not-dead/

Walden, Celia (June 8, 2026). I bet the Oxford trans brigade haven’t read their cancelled professor’s book. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/08/michael-foran-oxford-gender-lecture/

Maier, John (June 8, 2026). Don’t be fooled that radical trans activism is over: Recurrent obstructive protests forced the cancellation of a lecture series an Oxford tutor was giving on sex, gender and the law. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/radical-trans-activism-not-over-vqmktvppq

Duell, Mark (June 8, 2026). OXFORD TRANS HIJACK: Oxford University professor is forced to cancel lectures after pro-trans activists call him a ‘bigot’ and ‘transphobic.’ Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15882085/Moment-Oxford-University-professor-forced-cancel-lecture-pro-trans-activists-call-bigot-transphobic.html

Manning, Sanchez (June 8, 2026). Oxford ‘allowed’ trans protest that cancelled lecture series. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/oxford-trans-protest-cancelled-lecture-series-glcknpwrx

Bartosch, Josephine (June 8, 2026). Trans activists are realizing gender law is not on their side. UnHerd https://unherd.com/newsroom/trans-activists-are-realising-that-gender-law-was-never-on-their-side/

Staff report (June 8, 2026). Oxford professor cancels lectures after abuse over trans views. Christian Action Research and Education https://care.org.uk/news/2026/06/oxford-professor-cancels-lectures-after-abuse-over-trans-views

Bindel, Julie (June 7, 2026). Looniversity Challenge! Julie Bindel’s writing and podcasts https://juliebindel.substack.com/p/loonaversity-challenge

Tait, Albert (June 7, 2026). Oxford professor cancels lectures after abuse from pro-trans protesters. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/07/oxford-professor-cancel-lectures-trans-protesters/

[uncredited] (April 16, 2025). What is a woman? Britain’s Supreme Court gives its answer. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/04/16/what-is-a-woman-britains-supreme-court-gives-its-answer

Dunn, Lucy (April 16, 2025). Helen Joyce shares her joy at Supreme Court ruling. The Spectator https://spectator.com/article/supreme-court-sees-sense-with-helen-joyce-and-michael-foran/

Staff report (December 20, 2024). Sex Matters’ advisory group is growing. Sex Matters https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/sex-matters-advisory-group-is-growing/

Dunlop, Roddy (October 25, 2024). In defence of Michael Foran. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/in-defence-of-michael-foran/

Academics for Academic Freedom (October 22, 2024). Statement of Support for Michael Foran. https://afaf.org.uk/statement-of-support-for-michael-foran/

Selected writing by Foran

Cunningham, Naomi; Foran, Michael (May 29, 2026). Sport and UK law. In Devine, Cathy [editor] Sex, Gender Identity and Sport. Routledge, ISBN 978-1032940229

Foran, Michael (February 11, 2026). Human Rights, Gender Recognition and Single-Sex Spaces. U.K. Constitutional Law Blog https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2026/02/11/michael-foran-human-rights-gender-recognition-and-single-sex-spaces/

Foran, Michael (August 4, 2025). Sandie Peggie and the struggle for single-sex spaces: Sandie Peggie’s case is a landmark contest over sex, gender and the law. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/sandie-peggie-and-the-struggle-for-single-sex-spaces/

Foran, Michael (May 15, 2025). For Women Scotland: Is legal recognition of biological sex a violation of human rights? U.K. Constitutional Law Blog https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/05/15/michael-foran-for-women-scotland-is-legal-recognition-of-biological-sex-a-violation-of-human-rights/

Foran, Michael (February 13, 2025). Patients have a right to know a doctor’s sex: Patients who request female only care should be respected. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/patients-have-a-right-to-know-a-doctors-sex/

Foran, Michael (February 10, 2025). The truth about work, single-sex spaces and the law: Sandie Peggie should not have had to change with a male person. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-truth-about-work-single-sex-spaces-and-the-law/

Foran, Michael (November 21, 2024). What is a woman? The Scottish Government’s case. Knowing Ius https://knowingius.org/p/what-is-a-woman-the-scottish-governments

Foran, Michael (November 18, 2024). Can the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act vary depending on context? Knowing Ius https://knowingius.org/p/can-the-meaning-of-sex-in-the-equality

Foran, Michael (November 9, 2024). UK Supreme Court to decide “what is a woman?” A detailed look at the arguments. Knowing Ius https://knowingius.org/p/uk-supreme-court-to-decide-what-is

Foran, Michael (July 31, 2024). The vindication of Cass: An attempt to overturn restrictions on providing puberty blockers has failed. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-vindication-of-cass/

Foran, Michael (May 20, 2024). Why Roz Adams won: An employment tribunal has defended tolerance and the place of sex realism in society. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/why-roz-adams-won/

Foran, Michael (April 4, 2024). What does the Scottish Hate Crime and Public Order Act really say? Misunderstandings are the fault of Police Scotland and government ministers. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/what-does-the-scottish-hate-crime-and-public-order-act-really-say/

Foran, Michael (March 12, 2024). The “conversion therapy” ban still makes for bad law: Recent amendments have failed to answer serious concerns about its implications. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-conversion-therapy-ban-still-makes-for-bad-law/

Foran, Michael (January 10, 2024). The right to be gender critical: An Employment Tribunal has again upheld the protected nature of gender critical beliefs. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-right-to-be-gender-critical/

Foran, Michael (December 13, 2023). Section 35 and the Separation of Powers: On the Role of Unwritten Constitutional Principles in the Interpretation of the Scotland Act. U.K. Constitutional Law Blog https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2023/12/13/michael-foran-section-35-and-the-separation-of-powers-on-the-role-of-unwritten-constitutional-principles-in-the-interpretation-of-the-scotland-act/

Foran, Michael (August 3, 2023). A bill must be a scalpel: The new “Conversion Therapy Bill” must be precise and accurate. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/a-bill-must-be-a-scalpel/

Foran, Michael (July 20, 2023). On protecting characteristics: The facts about gender, schools and law. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/on-protecting-characteristics/

Foran, Michael (July 7, 2023). Why Mermaids lost: There is no right to avoid criticism. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/why-mermaids-lost/

Foran, Michael (June 1, 2023). Michael Foran: Equality Act and sex – important Scots cases on the horizon. Scottish Legal News https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/michael-foran-equality-act-and-sex-two-important-cases-in-scotland

Foran, M. P. (2023). On Defining Sex in Law. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4553987

Foran, Michael (April 7, 2023). Ministers must grasp the nettle on equality law: It needs greater clarity on sex and gender. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/ministers-must-grasp-the-nettle-on-equality-law/

Foran, Michael P. (2022). Grounding unlawful discrimination. Legal Theory, 28(1), 3–34. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1352325221000264

Foran, Michael (September 12, 2022). Interpretation after the Human Rights Act? The Principle of Legality and the Rule of Law. U.K. Constitutional Law Blog https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2022/09/12/michael-foran-interpretation-after-the-human-rights-act-the-principle-of-legality-and-the-rule-of-law/

Foran, Michael P. (2020) Equality before the law: a substantive constitutional principle. Public Law. pp. 287-306.

Foran, Michael P. (2019). The rule of good law: Form, substance and fundamental rights. The Cambridge Law Journal, 78(3), 570–595. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0008197319000618

Foran, M. P. (2019). Discrimination as an Individual Wrong. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 39(4), 901–929. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqz026

Books

Foran, Michael (2026). Sex, Gender Identity and the Law. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1009646321

Foran, Michael (2023). Equality Before the Law: Equal Dignity, Wrongful Discrimination and the Rule of Law. Hart Publishing, ISBN 978-1509964949

Media

Michael Foran (June 7, 2026). Lecture 2: Single-Sex Spaces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO3sdGmeZtU

Michael Foran (June 1, 2026). Lecture 1: How Sex Changed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO6FJK-dH0k

Michael Foran (May 24, 2026). EHRC Guidance on Single-Sex Services. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgIneSnFnTY

Michael Foran with Ronan McCrea (April 10, 2026). Has the gay revolution come to an end? Interview with Ronan McCrae, Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_wskmA8t0Y

Women’s Rights Network (March 18, 2026). In Conversation with Michael Foran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnCT3N3e4Z4

Battle of Ideas with Marion Calder, Tracy Edwards, Simon Fanshawe, Sonia Sodha, and Michael Foran (December 15, 2025). The trans lobby still has power | Michael Foran | Battle of Ideas 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvC3dP4w1k

Battle of Ideas with Marion Calder, Tracy Edwards, Simon Fanshawe, Sonia Sodha, and Michael Foran (December 11, 2025). Is the trans wave over in Britain? | Full Debate and Q&A | Battle of Ideas 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzfjoqxZgKc

Sex Matters with Joanna Cherry, Aidan O’Neill, David Welsh, Michael Foran, Susan Smith, Jenny Willmott, and Maya Forstater (June 17, 2025). Sex in the Equality Act: Understanding the FWS judgment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azcr2yAc3QA

Women’s Rights Network with Heather Binning and Michael Foran (May 14, 2025). In Conversation with Michael Foran, expert in equality law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwQfbDJfH54

Times Radio Breakfast with Rosie Wright, Calum Macdonald, and Michael Foran (April 17, 2025). [Interview on Supreme Court decision]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZEjfxZbMQ8

The Spectator with Lucy Dunn, Helen Joyce, and Michael Foran (April 16, 2025). What is a woman? Supreme Court sees sense – Helen Joyce and Michael Foran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TPehe2DoPs

Women’s Rights Network with Heather Binning and Michael Foran (February 10, 2025). In conversation with Michael Foran, lecturer in Public Law specialising in discrimination law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2aoxKNUOV4

mrmenno with Menno Kuijper and Michael Foran (December 12, 2024). Does the LAW even know what a woman is? | Michael Foran Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT357Ja4jmM

LGB Alliance with Bev Jackson, Michael Foran, Lizzy Pitt, Akua Reindorf, and Belle Lane (December 8, 2024). Sex, Lies And Victories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z549SIRQ5qY

Sex Matters / GBNews with Andrew Doyle, Maya Forstater, and Michael Foran (May 29, 2024). Edinburgh Rape Crisis | Maya Forstater & Michael Foran Free Speech Nation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s_f8cUz5sk

The Spectator with Katy Balls, Debbie Hayton, and Michael Foran (January 19, 2024). ‘It’ll criminalise normal people’ – Debbie Hayton attacks Scotland’s trans bill | SpectatorTV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmiaWME6m-o

GBNews with Andrew Doyle, Sarah Phillimore, and Michael Foran (January 14, 2024). ‘A real CULTURE WAR!’ | Social worker wins case after suspension for ‘gender-critical’ beliefs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnpXYxmJoNY

The Spectator with Julie Bindel and Michael Foran (December 15, 2023). Why Sturgeon’s trans bill threatens women – Julie Bindel & Michael Foran | Action Men. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHKuvkfDMk

Male Allies Challenging Sexism with Michael Foran (December 14, 2023). Dr. Michael Foran: Anti-discrimination law in the UK + Q&A | Men Challenging Sexism Conference 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGV84TUz3Fk

Sex Matters with Helen Joyce, Michael Foran, and Naomi Cunningham (June 8, 2023). Sex in the Equality Act: the Westminster Hall debate webinar 8th June 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdXh1D7DJL0

PolicyExchangeUK / The Agenda with Juliet Samuels and Michael Foran (January 27, 2023). DEEP DIVE: The Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IvmGVNww9E

Resources

University of Oxford Faculty of Law (law.ox.ac.uk)

Substack (substack.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

Verfassungsblog (verfassungsblog.de)

The Critic (thecritic.co.uk)

Battle of Ideas (battleofideas.org.uk)

  • Michael Foran
  • archives.battleofideas.org.uk/2025/speaker/michael-foran/
  • After the Supreme Court: the end of trans ideology?
  • battleofideas.org.uk/session/after-the-supreme-court-the-end-of-trans-ideology [archive]

YouTube (youtube.com)