Mary-Ann Stephenson

Mary-Ann Stephenson is the newly appointed chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the UK's human rights watchdog. She is newsworthy due to the ongoing debate and delayed release of the EHRC's guidance on single-sex spaces, following a landmark supreme court ruling on gender. The guidance aims to balance the rights of transgender people with the provision of single-sex spaces. The EHRC is currently in discussions with government lawyers to adapt the guidance, potentially lessening its impact on businesses. Stephenson has stated that the public should generally follow the rules outlined in the forthcoming guidance. The delay and controversy surrounding the guidance are reportedly causing internal tensions within the EHRC and diverting attention from other pressing issues, such as the rise of the far right. Stephenson's leadership is anticipated to bring about potential changes within the organization as she takes up her post.