Author: Steph

Being a human rights activist both for trans people and women, I guess it’s normal these days to upset some people. Sadly, though for some, a reasonable debate is not on the agenda, and they turn to hate. The message on this page (technically a hate incident) was sent to me via the contact page via the old Steph’s Place website on December 6th 2022. It was reported to the Police, who have done nothing other than send a letter saying they were sorry that I was a victim. Trans hate crime has, in the last year, increased by 56%,…

On Monday 6th of March, I was in discussion with Carole Hooven at UNE regarding trans women athletes competing in the female category of sports. No one doubts it is a highly contentious issue.  For trans folk in the UK, though, it’s not a problem compared to the hate we suffer daily from our abhorrent right-wing Conservative government and their media or the lack of available healthcare that sometimes leads to trans people taking their own lives. Indeed while some 32 million people in the UK participate in some form of sports activities, just 63 have registered in the related…

It’s Saturday 4th of March 2023, a cold, snowy day in Biddeford, Maine, USA. I am in the states to defend trans women competing in the female category of sport in a university discussion with the esteemed evolutionary biologist Harvard’s Carole Hooven, PhD.  Carole is not, in my opinion, gender-critical, but she has shared platforms with those who are – she also wrote the fantastic book “T: The Story of the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us”, which I reviewed last year.  I have been preparing for weeks, and I know exactly the angle Carole will take – that testosterone-suppressed…

As a trans and human rights activist, the issue of trans women competing in the female category of sport is clearly on my radar. The subject, though, is not a priority – heck, many British trans women won’t even come out of their houses for fear of the abuse on the streets. For them, competing in sports is impossible. My invitation to talk about trans women in sports at the University of New England in Maine, USA, came out of the blue – shock, horror; why me? Still, after Zooming with the university’s President, James Herbert, I committed to accepting…

Sophie Wilson is an English computer scientist who was instrumental in designing the BBC Micro and ARM architecture. She is also a transgender woman. Continue Reading Sophie Wilson, a Trans Woman and Your Smart Phone.

On the 17th of December, I made a rather unpopular tweet. Unpopular with other trans rights activists (tra’s), including my Co-Directors at Translucent. But sometimes, I can’t ‘toe the line’, especially when I feel something is wrong. I also job share the role of Women’s Officer with my best friend, Mary, at my local Labour Party. Mary supports trans rights to the hilt, but we should never forget we represent women. The tweet responded to a Guardian article suggesting that sex offenders could potentially abuse self-determination. My tweet read: This is my personal view & I know some trans folk…

Open any right-wing newspaper such as The Times, Telegraph or Daily Express and the chances are there will be “outrage” articles on “trans issues”. Indeed, in January  of this year, The Daily Mail published 115 trans related stories,  and in common with the other newspapers the large majority were trans hostile. Invariably these articles will be part of a campaign led by right-wing Tory think tanks. But why? The answer is straightforward – the Conservative party needs distraction from their failures and are creating outrage, fear and division. Sadly a side affect of all these negative articles is transgender hate…

On the evening of Thursday, 16th of February, a vigil was held at Portsmouth Cathedral in memory of our murdered trans sister Brianna Ghey. I was contacted two days earlier and given the opportunity to speak, which I accepted. I arrived about twenty minutes early with a small bunch of tulips and a few tears in my eyes. In reality, I am not great with sad occasions, and I wondered if I would break down. I was met by a lovely lady priest, introduced to the organiser, and sat at the front along with some other speakers. A photographer from…

Being trans hit a new low this week with the horrific murder of Brianna Ghey. Her family described her as a “larger than life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her” – and the public has responded to this tragedy – a gofundme page has rocketed to over £63,400 (and as I write, is still climbing) to help with a ‘pink funeral’ costs, with tear-jerking comments made by those who have donated. One read: As a fellow trans person, it hurts to see the type of things people will do to us just for wanting…

Two days ago, on February 6th Jo Phoenix posted a Twitter thread in response to our discussion on #AntiSocial Radio 4 (Friday, February 3rd). This blog is in reply to Jo’s thread which is shown in italics below and indented. My reply is in standard format.   You asked about points of agreement. Here is our point of disagreement. Women’s oppression, male privilege is structural. Women’s inequalities are not cultural. One can no more opt in or out of privilege where that privilege is conferred by social structure.  This is the difference between you and me. I and others have been trained…