Debbie Hayton | |
|---|---|
 Debbie Hayton in 2021 | |
| Born | 1968 (age 56–57) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Known for | Opposition to gender self-identification for transgender people |
| Website | debbiehayton |
Debbie Hayton (born 1968) is a British secondary school science teacher and political activist.
Since 2016, she has been a vocal opponent of gender self-identification, and supports laws which aim to define women-only spaces as being based on sex rather than gender identity. [1] She has spoken at meetings for Woman's Place UK, a "gender-critical" group. [2]
At a July 2019 event hosted by Fair Play For Women, Hayton wore a T-shirt which (mimicking a slogan by Stonewall) stated that "Trans women are men. Get over it." [3] [4] She was criticised and threatened with expulsion from the LGBT+ committee of the Trades Union Congress for her actions. [3] Hayton had sat on the committee for five years. [5]
In 2020, the National Education Union's Trans and non-binary network criticised Hayton's appointment by the union for a role on the TUC's LGBT+ Committee. [6]
Hayton's inclusion in Church of England resource materials caused controversy at General Synod in 2021. [7] Jayne Ozanne criticised the inclusion, describing Hayton as someone "outspoken in her denial of the very existence of trans people". [8] Synod member Ian Paul supported Hayton, asking Bishop Sarah Mullally about actions being taken to protect Hayton "from intimidation and from attempts to silence her". [9] Hayton is also often criticized by other gender critical feminists such as Julia Long on account of Hayton's transsexual identity. [10]
Hayton is a transsexual woman, who underwent gender transition in 2012 and gender reassignment surgery in 2016. She is married with three children. [1] [11]
