| Debbie Hayton | |
| Nationality: | British |
| Occupation: | Teacher |
| Years Active: | 2016–present |
| Known For: | Opposition to gender self-identification for transgender people |
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. She has spoken at meetings for Woman's Place UK, a "gender-critical" group.[1]
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."[2] [3] She was criticised and threatened with expulsion from the LGBT+ committee of the Trades Union Congress for her actions.[2] Hayton had sat on the committee for five years.[4]
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.[5]
Hayton's inclusion in Church of England resource materials caused controversy at General Synod in 2021.[6] Jayne Ozanne criticised the inclusion, describing Hayton as someone "outspoken in her denial of the very existence of trans people".[7] 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".[8] Hayton is also often criticized by other gender critical feminists such as Julia Long on account of Hayton's transsexual identity.[9]
Hayton is a transsexual woman, who underwent gender transition in 2012 and gender reassignment surgery in 2016. She is married with three children.[10] [11]