Author: Steph

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(Pronouns - she/her) - Steph Richards is a 73-year-old 'post-op' trans woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate and works as a human rights activist. She was the elected Women's and LGBT Officer at Portsmouth Labour Party 2021 - 2024, CEO of Translucent.Org.UK, winner of the LGBT Organisation of the Year at the National Diversity Awards in 2022, co-founder of Women's Action Network (Portsmouth) and a volunteer at a Women's health charity. Steph was shortlisted as a "Gender Role Model" at the National Diversity Awards in 2025. Steph has been platformed live on BBC Radio 4 three times, including Women's Hour. She has also appeared on Times Radio, LBC Radio, GB News and Channel 4 News. In 2023, Steph debated trans human rights at an American university event alongside Harvard biologist and author Carole Hooven, PhD. Steph (an intersectional feminist) is passionate about the inclusion and acceptance of trans people in society. She advocates for women in prison, specifically pregnant women and calls out the mounting concern that abortion rights are at risk in the UK. She was the recipient of an Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Award in March, 2023.

Photo of people jogging at dawn

Dear Sharron, Mara, Emily and Jon So, they think it’s all over – well, it is now the Commonwealth Games have finished, and I guess you (and others like you) are proud because you helped #SaveWomensSport. People from over seventy nations ran, jumped, threw, swam, punched, flicked, bowled, dived, cycled, fought, kicked, hurdled, batted, and pole vaulted to gold, silver, and bronze medals in some 280 events. And for sure, some are on the way home happy, hurt, or sad. But one person who isn’t going home sad is Emily Bridges – because you (and others like you) campaign…

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Focusing on more important issues

  Gender-critical people and trans people rarely agree – but both “sides” are relieved that Tavi is closing. The crux, though, is not Tavi; it’s puberty blockers. Gender-critical people invariably don’t want them used. Trans people want them used much earlier – to be precise, at Tanner Stage Two. Whatever the rights or wrongs of this debate – I would like to moot a sobering thought. For every child prescribed puberty blockers via the Tavistock – two babies pass away suffering from SIDS. If you are unaware of what SIDS stands for, it’s Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. And with better SIDS…

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CaroleHooven-Testosterone - Book Front Cover

All trans women like me know that “T” (testosterone) is the enemy. We all should know our enemies, and trans women have more than most. Some wish to completely eradicate us from this earth, such as one Republican politician, Robert Foster, who tweeted that a firing squad should execute all transgender people. Others, over thirty thousand worldwide, wish to eradicate trans women, supporting a document known as the “Women’s Declaration”. In short, these people don’t want a trans woman like me visible because I give the name ‘woman’ a bad reputation – allegedly taking away “sex-based rights”. Um. For all its…

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