Dr. Mary-Ann Stephenson has stepped into the volatile role of the UK’s top human rights enforcer with a simple plea to her detractors: judge the work, not the history.

As the newly appointed chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Stephenson faces immediate headwinds from LGBTQ+ campaigners over her past “gender-critical” stances—a conflict highlighting the global challenge of balancing competing rights, a friction well-known to observers in Kenya.

Navigating the Culture Wars

In her first major media engagement since taking office in early December, Stephenson moved quickly to address the elephant in the room. Her appointment was contentious; the UK government overruled objections from parliament’s women and equalities committee regarding her suitability, sparking concern among transgender advocacy groups.

Stephenson’s critics point to two specific actions as evidence of bias:

• Open Letters: She signed correspondence opposing censorship on university campuses and condemning violence against campaigners.
• Financial Support: She donated to the 2022 legal fund of Allison Bailey, a barrister who successfully sued her chambers for discrimination based on her gender-critical views.

Speaking on these issues, Stephenson rejected the label of being “anti-trans.” She argued that her actions were “really widely mischaracterised,” framing them instead as a defense of free speech and democratic association.

“I was concerned about women who had been harassed or sometimes lost their jobs for the expression of legally protected views at a point when there was a public debate about changing legislation,” Stephenson noted, emphasizing that her focus remains on the legal right to hold a view, rather than the view itself.

A Mandate for All

The controversy surrounding the EHRC mirrors broader global debates on how national human rights institutions (NHRIs) navigate polarized societies. Much like the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) must often mediate between constitutional freedoms and cultural or religious sentiments, the EHRC is tasked with enforcing the UK's Equality Act 2010 without favoring one protected group over another.

Stephenson insisted that her past advocacy does not compromise her ability to lead. She pledged a “lifelong commitment” to upholding human rights for every demographic, including the transgender community.

“I am really keen... for the chair of the EHRC to uphold the rights of everybody across all protected characteristics,” she stated.

The coming months will be the true test of her tenure. With the debate over single-sex spaces and gender identity remaining a flashpoint in UK politics, Stephenson concluded with a forward-looking challenge: “I would say, you know, judge me on what I do.”