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Susan Smith vs. transgender people

Susan Smith is a Scottish fund manager, consultant, and anti-transgender activist. Smith is a co-founder of For Women Scotland and serves as a trustee of Beira’s Place.

Background

Susan Chynoweth was born in December 1971 to Margaret and David Boyd Chynoweth (1940–2013) was finance director of the old Lothian Region. Chynoweth has two siblings, Claire and Richard.

Susan Chynoweth earned a master’s degree from University of Oxford in 1993 and has published under that name.

Susan Chynoweth-Smith married Nicholas James “Nick” Smith (born 1976). They are officers in Nick Smith Consulting.

Anti-trans activism

Smith came to prominence during 2017, when discussions among Scottish anti-trans activists concerned about proposed gender recognition reforms led to the formation of a new advocacy organization. Along with Trina Budge, Marion Calder, and Magdalen Berns, Smith helped organize what became For Women Scotland. The group formally launched in June 2018. In July 2020, For Women Scotland was incorporated as a not-for-profit company in Scotland.

Smith became one of the organization’s most visible representatives, giving media interviews and speaking at public meetings concerning proposed changes to Scotland’s Gender Recognition Act legislation. In February 2022, For Women Scotland won an appeal in the Court of Session concerning statutory guidance under the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018.

In December 2022, anti-trans extremist J.K. Rowling announced that Smith would serve on the board of Beira’s Place, a private trans-exclusionary service set up in response to the trans-inclusive policies of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre.

in April 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to “biological sex” for the purposes considered in the case.

References

Selva, Meera (October 8, 2001). Chynoweth takes over from Marsden. CityWire https://citywire.com/funds-insider/news/chynoweth-takes-over-from-marsden/a229566

Anti-trans coverage

Freeman, Hadley (December 27, 2025). We won the Supreme Court sex ruling. The PM is subverting it. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/we-won-the-supreme-court-sex-ruling-its-being-deliberately-blocked-m6mgfwj77

McColm, Euan (October 29, 2025). Police Scotland have treated Susan Smith terribly. The Spectator https://spectator.com/article/police-scotland-have-treated-susan-smith-terribly/?edition=us

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

Selected writing by Smith

Smith, Susan (July 20, 2026). ‘Shame on the MSPs who embraced trans activists and their vile abuse of women.’ The Daily Record https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/shame-msps-who-embraced-trans-37451153

Smith, Susan (May 28, 2026). Women’s rights come a poor second to the demands of trans men. The Herald https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/viewpoint/26144399.womens-rights-come-poor-second-demands-trans-men/

Smith, Susan (2024). Chapter 6: Courage calls – a case study. In Dalgety, Susan; Blackburn, Lucy Hunter [editors]. The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht: Voices from the front-line of Scotland’s battle for women’s rights. Constable, ISBN 978-1408720707

Smith, Susan (April 1, 2024). No joke: Scotland’s Hate Crime Act is absurd, but nobody’s laughing. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/no-joke/

Chynoweth, Susan (May 5, 2022). It is so frus­trat­ing to read false­hoods peddled in the sex/gender debate. The Courier via PressReader https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-perth-and-perthshire-edition/20220505/281964611298952

Smith, Susan (March 23, 2022). Victory for For Women Scotland: The definition of a “woman” is common sense — so why has it taken so many court cases to prove so? The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/victory-for-for-women-scotland/

Smith, Susan (August 13, 2021). Total dummies: Reinforcing messages about what makes a “real” boy or girl has no place in schools. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/total-dummies/

Chynoweth, Susan (October 7, 2019). Magdalen Berns, vlogger who took a stand for women’s rights. Camden New Journal https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/magdalen-berns-vlogger-who-took-a-stand-for-womens-rights

Smith, Susan and signatories (June 2, 2019). Trans ideology is damaging children. The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/trans-ideology-is-damaging-children-k5nlhwmc8

Media

Women’s Rights Network Wales and Merched Cymru with Sharron Davies, Susan Smith, Kate Harris, and Naomi Cunningham (March 24, 2026). Sharron Davies, Susan Smith, Kate Harris & Naomi Cunningham: Defining Sex Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRmNuy5itlo

Liberal Voice for Women with with Susan Smith, Sally Wainwright and Lucy Hunter Blackburn (January 20, 2026). The Supreme Court Ruling with Susan Smith, Sally Wainwright and Lucy Hunter Blackburn, June 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g242IngEZPo

Women’s Rights Network Wales and Merched Cymru with Sharron Davies, Susan Smith, Kate Harris, and Naomi Cunningham (December 29, 2025). Sharron Davies, Susan Smith, Kate Harris & Naomi Cunningham: Defining Sex Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW6y52UG6uE

Labour Women’s Declaration with Susan Smith (October 17, 2025). Labour Party Conference 2025 Fringe Event: Susan Smith, For Women Scotland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN1h4kvIT-M

Wine With Women with Helen Staniland and Susan Smith (September 6, 2025). Wine With Women ep. 8: Susan Smith from For Women Scotland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqUvqtyxebM

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 Space Vancouver with Kris Anderson and Susan Smith (June 13, 2025). For Women Scotland – A Conversation with Susan Smith – Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCXVe91vO_A

Women Space Vancouver with Kris Anderson and Susan Smith (June 13, 2025). For Women Scotland – A Conversation with Susan Smith – Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n2KOXxEh88

TalkTV with Julia Hartley-Brewer and Susan Smith (May 7, 2025). “SOD THEM!” | Julia Hartley-Brewer BLASTS Nicola Sturgeon Over Supreme Court Trans Ruling Comments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOCEQpo4l-8

The Same Drugs with Meghan Murphy and Susan Smith (May 5, 2025). “You don’t make somebody safe by making another group of people unsafe.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q4Rpszb3pM

TalkTV with Jeremy Kyle and Susan Smith (April 23, 2025). “I’m PETRIFIED!” | Women Scotland Director SLAMS Transgender Protesters On March. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1cftZ4rmY8

GBNews with Camilla Tominey and Susan Smith (April 20, 2025). ‘NOT Human Shields!’ Women’s Rights Campaigner HITS BACK at Trans Activist Claims on GB News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoLIjWLhGP8

TalkTV with Julia Hartley-Brewer and Susan Smith (April 17, 2025). “We Were Terrified” | Courageous Campaigner Explains Supreme Court Gender Case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-HIgfQVoe0

GBNews with Andrew Doyle and Susan Smith (June 2, 2024). ‘Parents should be WORRIED!’ ALARM sounded over ‘ENDEMIC’ Trans OBSESSION in Scottish schools. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIIPSMJyl38

GBNews with Susan Smith (May 7, 2024). Proposed ban on puberty blockers ignites BLAZING ROW as Dr Hilary Cass attacks ‘misinformation.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eIxWeuTTrc

Liberal Voice for Women with Allison Jenner, Sarah Pedersen, and Susan Smith (June 5, 2023). Scottish Women Won’t Wheesht. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz84iVFTUQk

Let Us Pray with Susan Smith (April 14, 2023). Susan Smith: ‘Conversion therapy’ ban is code for enshrining gender ideology into law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCHQ1KnkGH0

Forth Valley Feminists with Susan Smith (February 11, 2023). FVF Women’s Festival 2023 – Susan Smith of For Women Scotland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIv2nb_y3IY

GBNews / Free Speech Nation with Andrew Doyle and Susan Smith (January 22, 2023). The SNP’s gender reform bill is ‘diluting the protections available for women’ | Susan Smith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBhsibJe5Lk

Women’s Declaration International (WDI) with Jo Brew and Susan Smith (December 5, 2022). News from Scotland, Susan Smith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEljAMxHk5U

The Gender Nebulous Podcast with Freda Wallace, Kevin O’Sulivan, and Susan Smith (December 22, 2022). Ep-14 Freda Wallace, Kevin O’Sulivan (TalkTV) & Susan Smith talk about GRA Reforms in Scotland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWy_LJ-I9EM

The Cauldron with Lisa Keogh, Denise Findlay and Susan Smith (November 13, 2021). The Cauldron – Lisa Keogh, Denise Findlay and Susan Smith – Episode 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXmpW01hMmU

The Mess We’re In with Graham Linehan“Arty Morty,” Helen Staniland, and Susan Smith (August 11, 2021). 72: The crisis at Edinburgh Rape Crisis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMXJaO5eeWs

Peachyoghurt Genderfree / Scottish Parliament with Rosa Freedman and Susan Smith (December 8, 2018). Professor Rosa Freedman and Susan Smith on Sex Based Rights and Gender Identity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn6ZK2ouG3k

Resources

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The Critic (thecritic.co.uk)