Debbie Hayton
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Debbie Hayton in 2021
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| Born | 1968 (age 55–56) |
| 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]
