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Naomi Cunningham vs. transgender people

Naomi Cunningham is a British barrister and anti-transgender activist. Cunningham is affiliated with antiip-trans group Sex Matters. Cunningham considers gender transition “the most savage conversion therapy ever,” a claim for which Cunningham was formally rebuked.

Background

According to a Sex Matters profile:

Naomi Cunningham is a barrister specialising in employment and discrimination law at Outer Temple Chambers, and a member of Legal Feminist. She practises mainly in the intersections between sex, gender reassignment and belief discrimination. She acted for Roz Adams against Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre; Rachel Meade against Social Work England and Westminster City Council; and social worker Lizzy Pitt’s claim against Cambridgeshire County Council. Current instructions include Ursula Doyle’s claim against publishing giant Hachette, and two separate challenges to workplace toilets giving trans-identifying men access to facilities provided for female employees. 

Anti-transgender activism

Cunningham represented anti-trans nurse Sandie Peggie in a case againt transgender physician Beth Upton.

References

Staff report (March 10 2025). Barrister in trans case: You’ve got a willy so you’re a man, innit? The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/barrister-in-trans-case-youve-got-a-willy-so-youre-a-man-innit-372k6xcrl

Ward, Sara (9 March 2025). ‘You’ve got a willy, so you’re a man’ – Transgender case tribunal barrister. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kirkcaldy-holyrood-scottish-government-twitter-b2711679.html https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ve-got-willy-man-transgender-103824202.html

Scott, Marion (March 9, 2025). Police’s changing-room policy for trans officers ‘may be illegal.’ The Sunday Post https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/polices-changing-room-policy-for-trans-officers-may-be-illegal/

Macaskill, Mark (14 February 2025). NHS decision to suspend nurse in trans row ‘ludicrous’, said HR. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/14/sandie-peggie-beth-upton-transgender-doctor-nhs-hospital-hr/

Staff report (13 February 2025). Trans doctor had the ‘right’ to use women’s room. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ydnxy5019o

Foran, Michael (February 11, 2025). Has there been a cover-up in NHS Scotland trans case? UnHerd https://unherd.com/newsroom/has-there-been-a-cover-up-in-nhs-scotland-trans-case/

Staff report (11 February 2025). Transgender doctor at centre of hospital changing room row tells tribunal presence was not an ‘invasion of privacy.’ Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/transgender-doctor-at-centre-of-hospital-changing-room-row-tells-tribunal-presence-was-not-an-invasion-of-privacy-13307003

Scott, Katy (10 February 2025). ‘I’m only asking for basic respect’ – trans doctor. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gx07xdpw5o

Silver, Eliana (January 22, 2025). Trans row: NHS attempts to ban nurse from referring to transgender doctor as a man in legal battle. GBNews https://www.gbnews.com/news/trans-row-nhs-fife-ban-nurse-pronouns-doctor-legal-battle

Burton, Lucy (14 September 2024). Female barristers rebel against crackdown on ‘unfashionable views’ amid trans tensions. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/09/14/female-barristers-rebel-crackdown-views-trans-tensions/

Baksi, Catherine (May 09 2024). Lawyer of the week: Naomi Cunningham on her career and winning a gender critical case. The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/naomi-cunningham-on-her-career-and-winning-a-gender-critical-case-l6th5g09w

Morrison, Hamish (31 January 2023). Lord Falconer told to ‘be polite’ after interrupting woman on trans committee. The National https://www.thenational.scot/news/23290125.lord-falconer-told-be-polite-interrupting-woman-trans-committee/

Hamilton, Jamie (19 November 2021). Middle Temple holds LGBT event with feminist despite complaints from over 100 barristers https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/middle-temple-holds-lgbt-event-feminist-despite-complaints-over-100-barristers. RollOnFriday https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/middle-temple-holds-lgbt-event-feminist-despite-complaints-over-100-barristers

Kelleher, Patrick (Nov 18 2021). ‘Anti-trans’ lawyer rebuked after calling transitioning ‘most savage conversion therapy ever.’ PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2021/11/18/naomi-cunningham-transgender-middle-temple/

Selected anti-trans writings by Cunningham

Cunningham, Naomi (12 Jan 2023). Naomi Cunningham: The ‘chilling effect’ of Scotland’s proposed gender recognition regime. Scottish Legal News https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/naomi-cunningham-the-chilling-effect-of-scotlands-proposed-gender-recognition-regime

Cunningham, Naomi (21 November 2021). Why did lawyers try to cancel me over trans rights? The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-did-lawyers-try-to-cancel-me-over-trans-rights/

Resources

X/Twitter (x.com)

Legal Feminist (legalfeminist.org.uk)

Outer Temple (outertemple.com)

Sex Matters (sex-matters.org)