Sex Matters vs. transgender people

Sex Matters is an anti-transgender sex segregationist organization based in the United Kingdom.

For media titled Sex Matters, see the note below.

Background

In 2019, Maya Forstater prevailed in Forstater v Centre for Global Development Europe, which found that gender critical beliefs were legally protected under the UK Equality Act 2010.

Private company

Sex Matters Ltd was founded as a private company on October 26, 2020 by Rebecca Bull, Maya Forstater, and Anya Palmer. On January 1, 2021 Palmer was removed, and Naomi Cunningham and Emma Hilton were added. Bull, Forstater, Cunningham, and Hilton are often described as the four founders. In December 2023, theorganization changed legal name to Sex Matters for Everyone Ltd. On September 23, 2025, the private company Sex Matters for Everyone Ltd was dissolved.

Charity

Sex Matters became a registered charity on April 3, 2024. The trustees are:

Emma Hilton (appointed April 2024)
Charlotte Cadden (appointed February 2025)
Anya Palmer (appointed August 2024)
Michael Biggs (appointed April 2024)
Rebecca Kirkwood Bull (appointed April 2024)

In January 2026 it was revealed that the Charity Commission had opened an investigation into Sex Matters over a year earlier.

Anti-trans activism

In 2021, Sex Matters complained to the Committee on Standards in Public Life because the passport office did not record how many people changed sex on the passport.

In 2022, Sex Matters published a series by Matilda Gosling and Stella O’Malley titled “Teenagers and gender identity: the evidence base.” The evidence cited heavily favored like-minded activists who support anti-transgender conversion therapy, as well as a few supporters of trans healthcare for minors. Citations included J. Michael Bailey, Juliane Ball, Hannah Bergman, Susan Bewley, Ray Blanchard, Susan Bradley, William Byne, Richard Byng, Polly Carmichael, Damian Clifford, Peggy Cohen-Kettenis, Eli Coleman, Nastasja M de Graaf, Annelou L C de Vries, Karlien Dhondt, Domenico di Ceglie, Marcus Evans, Susan Evans, A Evan Eyler, Louise Frisén, Richard Green, Catharina A Hartman, Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino, Dianna T. Kenny, Jolien Laridaen, Joan Linsenmeier, Lisa Littman, Lisa Marchiano, Margaret McCartney, Heino F L Meyer-Bahlburg, Edgardo J Menvielle, Dagmar Pauli, Richard R. Pleak. Abigail Shrier, Jesse Singal, Chris Skidmore, Thomas Steensma, D Andrew Tompkins, Marja Työläjärvi, Anna I R van der Miesen, and Kenneth Zucker.

In 2024, Sex Matters, Scottish Lesbians, the Lesbian Project, and LGB Alliance intervened in the For Women Scotland v the Scottish Ministers appeal.

People

Private company Sex Matters Ltd leadership

Rebecca Bull – Founder and Officer (2020–2025)
Maya Forstater – Founder and Officer (2020–2025)
Anya Palmer – Founder and Officer (2020–2021)

Naomi Cunningham – Officer (2021–2025) [often credited as a founder]
Emma Hilton – Officer (2021–2025) [often credited as a founder]

Michael Biggs – Officer (2021–2025)
Julia Casimo – Officer (2022–2025)

Charity Sex Matters leadership

Tim Allan – Trustee (2024–2025) [resigned to be Starmer government director of communications]
Charlotte Cadden – Trustee (2024–present)
Kate Owen – Trustee (2024–2025)
Anya Palmer – Trustee (2024–present)
Claire Weir – Trustee (2024–2025)

Staff

Jo Bartosch – Memo Editor
Lexi Ellingsworth – Campaign Manager
Fiona McAnena – Director of Campaigns
Helen Joyce – Director of Advocacy
Beck Laxton – Publications Manager
Emma Moore – Administrator
Gemma Winborn-Peart – Head of Marketing

Advisory group

Keira Bell
Simon Briscoe
Sam Bussey
Martin Carr
Joanna Cherry
Cathy Devine
Jess De Wahls
Sonya Douglas
Tom Farr
Milli Hill
Lucy Hunter Blackburn
Nicole Jones
Gerard Kelly
Monica Kurnatowska
Maggie Mellon
Gia Milinovich
Levi Pay
Jo Phoenix
Jon Pike
Cathy Pitt
Joan Smith
Alice Sullivan
Mara Yamauchi

References

Perry, Sophie (July 15, 2025). Scottish government reviewing trans toilet policy after fresh legal threat. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/07/15/scottish-government-reviewing-trans-toilet-policy-after-fresh-legal-threat/

Robson, Graham (July 11, 2025 ). Equality & Human Rights Commission accused of bias over links to gender-critical lobby groups. Scene Magazine https://www.scenemag.co.uk/equality-human-rights-commission-accused-of-bias-over-links-to-gender-critical-lobby-groups/

Domb, Arielle (July 14, 2025). Who are Sex Matters? The controversial campaign group. Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/sex-matters-who-hampstead-heath-women-only-pond-b1238022.html

Williams, ST (June 26, 2025). Behind the ruling: how ‘Sex Matters’ is shaping UK policy on trans rights. Yorkshire Bylines https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/home-affairs/behind-the-ruling-how-sex-matters-is-shaping-uk-policy-on-trans-rights/

Staff report (June 18, 2025). Women’s group threatens legal action over single-sex spaces. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr4w07k17ygo

Hansford, Amelia (March 21, 2025). Government asked to reject ‘biased’ review by academic with ties to gender-critical group. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/03/21/sullivan-review-sex-matters/

Mitchell, Hilary (February 5, 2025). What is gender-critical group Sex Matters and how is it involved with the Sandie Peggie tribunal? PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/02/05/dr-beth-upton-tribunal-sandie-peggie-sex-matters/

Perry, Sophie (November 12, 2024). Equalities minister Anneliese Dodds meets with gender-critical group Sex Matters. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/11/12/anneliese-dodds-sex-matters-meeting-social-media-trans/

Whitehead, Harriet (April 5, 2024). Regulator grants Sex Matters charitable status. Civil Society https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/regulator-grants-sex-matters-charitable-status.html

Harle, Emily (5 April 2024). Controversial gender-critical group granted charitable status. Third Sector https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/controversial-gender-critical-group-granted-charitable-status/governance/article/1867826

Reed, Erin (September 21, 2023). “Biological Clothing” – Dress Codes Espoused By UK TERFs, US Conservatives. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/biological-clothing-dress-codes-espoused

Anti-trans coverage

Pooran, Neil (July 4, 2025). Gender critical campaigners demand action from government on toilet access. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scottish-government-supreme-court-snp-john-swinney-scottish-b2782734.html

Brooks, Libby (June 18, 2025). Scottish government faces legal action over failure to implement biological sex ruling. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/18/scottish-government-given-deadline-to-implement-ruling-on-biological-sex

Holt, Alison; Melley, James (April 18, 2025). The Supreme Court ruling gives clarity – but now comes the difficult part. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74z04j23pwo

Singh, Anita (April 2, 2025). Jail doctors who perform trans surgery on young people, says feminist activist. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/02/jail-doctors-trans-surgery-young-people-says-helen-joyce-uk/

Brown, Oliver (March 7, 2025). ‘Biological male’ ruling proves sex matters in women’s sport. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/03/07/biological-male-vindication-sex-matters-transphobic/

Brooks, Libby (November 26, 2024). Supreme court urged to recognise ‘facts of biological reality’ in sex definition case. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/26/supreme-court-for-women-scotland-gender-representation-appeal-case

Selected writing by Sex Matters

Staff report (September 20, 2024). Sex Matters appoints new trustees. Sex Matters https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/sex-matters-appoints-new-trustees/

Note

Several written works have the title Sex Matters, including some by anti-trans authors:

Sex Matters: Essays in Gender-Critical Philosophy by Holly Lawford-Smith (2023)
Sex Matters: How Modern Feminism Lost Touch with Science, Love, and Common Sense by Mona Charen (2018)
Why Sex Matters: A Darwinian Look at Human Behavior by Bobbi S. Low (1999)
Sex Matters by Jonathan McKee (2015)

This anthology is by trans-supportive editors:

Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader Edited by Mindy Stombler, Dawn M. Baunach, Elisabeth O. Burgess, Wendy Simonds, Elroi J. Windsor (2003–present)

These titles are unrelated to trans issues:

Sex Matters: How Male-Centric Medicine Endangers Women’s Health and What We Can Do About It by Alyson J. McGregor (2020)
Sex Matters: From Sex to Superconsciousness by Osho (2003)