ALT The Chair Equality and Human Rights Commission Arndale House, Manchester 23 May 2026 Dear Mary-Ann Stephenson, In my open letter dated 17 April 2026, I warned against unmeritorious claims predicated on "bathroom bounty law" theories, noting with concern that your defence in Good Law Project's judicial review challenge to your interim guidance closely resembled those theories. That concern has proven to be well-placed following the government's publication of your draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations. You asserted that common trans-inclusive arrangements, specifically those relating to trans women, are "very likely" direct discrimination against a meddling man, "could be" discrimination against women, and "could lead to" harassment, yet you gave no reason whatsoever for these assertions. In other words, when the trans community, businesses, and devolved administrations seek practical solutions from you, you meet them with intimidation.

ALT These largely empty threats are then followed by a call for the blanket segregation of trans people, presented as a mitigation of those very threats. You are using fear to induce discrimination. The public policy position your Commission seek to propagate, in which "bathroom bounty law" actions run rampant, supposedly mitigated only by segregation of trans people, is an interference with our Convention rights. Not only have you clearly failed to provide justification for this, but more egregiously, your interference is prescribed not by law, but by intimidation. I recall reading the letter from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Women and Equalities Committee, which expressed reservations about your appointment as Chair of the Commission. They specifically cited concerns over your vision and leadership and your ability to rebuild trust. That letter did not, however, call into question your capacity for reflection.