Groups defending sex-based rights
This is an overview of some of the groups opposing sex self-ID in the UK. They have been set up by individuals and collectives concerned by the failure of established third-sector organisations to defend women’s sex-based rights, child safeguarding and evidence-based policymaking. Although a few have a handful of paid staff, they rely almost entirely on small donations and volunteers’ time. Group descriptions in a PDF.
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Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG)
Group of clinicians concerned at established medical bodies’ and regulators’ uncritical support for experimental treatments for gender-confused and gender-distressed people. (For names of members, visit the website.) Advocates for clearer dialogue, better data collection, rigorous science and improved treatment options for gender dysphoria. Calls upon healthcare organisations to develop...
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Conservatives for Women
Group that campaigns to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of gender-identity ideology across society. Focuses on raising awareness within the Conservative Party and seeks to influence the party’s political and policy response to gender ideology. Campaigns for: the integrity of science, free speech and open tolerant debate,...
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Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA)
Coalition of practitioners, academics and students in the field of social work. Formed as a response to concerns about the impact of gender-identity theory in their field. Argues that social workers’ legal responsibilities to safeguard children are being put at risk by the lack of an evidence base for...
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Fair Play For Women
Campaigning and consultancy group which raises awareness, provides evidence and analysis, and supports policy-makers to protect the rights of women and girls in the UK. Opposes sex self-ID, and also played a large part in the government’s decision to abandon plans to introduce it in England and Wales in...
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FiLiA
Volunteer-led feminist charity that works towards women’s liberation. Holds an annual feminist conference, and runs projects in various parts of the UK. Established in 2012, so one of the few organisations already in existence before the attempt in 2017 to introduce sex self-ID in England and Wales that spoke...
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For Women Scotland
Grassroots group formed in 2018, working to ensure that women’s rights to safety, privacy and dignity are not thrown out in the rush for sex self-ID, which the Scottish government is determined to implement despite similar plans having been thrown out in Westminster. Landmark court ruling in 2021 that...
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Genspect
International alliance founded in 2021 by parents and clinicians seeking a rational approach to gender issues. Has expanded to include detransitioners, desisters and people unhappy with their own transition, as well as other professionals such as educators and journalists. Creates resources on gender issues and seeks a better approach...
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Keep Prisons Single Sex
Established in 2020 to campaign for the sex-based rights of women in prison to single-sex accommodation and same-sex searching. Also campaigns for data on offending to be recorded by sex throughout the criminal justice system. Spokesperson is Kate Coleman. Email: [email protected]
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Labour Women’s Declaration
Launched in November 2019 when 300 Labour members and supporters signed a seven-point Declaration setting out the sex-based rights required for women and girls to flourish. The Declaration has since been signed by thousands of Labour-voting supporters, including elected politicians (Peers, MPs, MSPs, Cllrs) and Constituency Chairs and women’s...
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Legal Feminist
Collective of solicitors and barristers, some anonymous and some not. Blogs on subjects related to sex, gender and the law, offers expert commentary on legal developments and makes submissions to government consultations on proposals related to equality and human-rights law, setting out how those proposals will affect women. Email:...
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LGB Alliance
Registered charity set up in 2019 to advocate for the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual people. Founded by two lesbians, Bev Jackson (who in 1970 was a founding member of the UK Gay Liberation Front) and Kate Harris (who was formerly an active supporter of, and fundraiser for,...
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Liberal Voice for Women
Grassroots group within the Liberal Democrats advocating for the rights and interests of women and girls. Seeks a reversal of the Lib Dems’ anti-women policies which prioritise self-identified gender over the material fact of sex, as well as culture change within the party towards freedom of belief and open...
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MBM Policy Analysis (Murray Blackburn Mackenzie)
Collective formed in 2018 of three women with backgrounds in policy-making, research and communications: Kath Murray, Lucy Hunter Blackburn and Lisa Mackenzie. Produces blogs, briefings and submissions to government consultations on issues pertaining to sex-based rights. Seeks to improve policy-making and lawmaking, at both the Scottish level and for...
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Merched cymru (Women of Wales)
Non-aligned grassroots group working to protect the sex-based rights of women and girls in Wales, where there is little political opposition to gender-identity ideology. Produces a newsletter, and resources tailored to Welsh law, in particular to the regulations governing Welsh schools. Email: [email protected]
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Safe Schools Alliance
Focuses on children, specifically on safeguarding and the correct interpretation of the Equality Act. A group made up of parents and professionals that produces resources to support parents who seek to challenge harmful school materials and policies that prioritise sex self-ID over the privacy, safety and dignity of all...
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Sex Matters
Not-for-profit organisation set up in 2021 with a singular mission: to re-establish that sex matters in rules, laws, policies, language and culture. Executive director is Maya Forstater, who in 2019 took a case in the employment tribunal after losing her job for talking about sex-based rights. This led to...
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Standing For Women
Grassroots membership campaign that started in 2018 with the production of posters and T-shirts bearing the message “Woman: Adult Human Female”. Focuses on public and direct actions, such as meetings at Speakers Corner, and rallies to raise awareness of the ongoing threats to women’s rights. Spokesperson is Kellie-Jay Keen...
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Thoughtful Therapists
Founded in 2021, a group of psychotherapists and counsellors who campaign to raise awareness of the negative impact of gender ideology on mental-health services, in particular for children with gender dysphoria. Work has focused on government proposals to ban “gender-identity conversion therapy” and on the “Memorandum of Understanding on...
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Transgender Trend
Founded in 2015 to draw attention to the harms done by gender-identity ideology to children, especially in schools and in medicine. In 2020 was given permission by the High Court to intervene in support of Keira Bell’s judicial review against the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. In March 2022,...
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Woman’s Place UK (WPUK)
Grassroots feminist campaign formed in 2017 by women with backgrounds in trade-union and broader social movements. Aim was to ensure women’s voices would be heard in the consultation on proposals for self-identification and to uphold single-sex exceptions. Played a large role in getting government plans to reform the Gender...