Trans woman, Steph Richards, steps down from endometriosis charity after sustained criticism from Reform UK MP Suella Braverman

A trans woman who worked with a women’s health charity has stepped away from her role following sustained political criticism, highlighting ongoing tensions around trans inclusion in public life and healthcare advocacy.

Steph Richards, 73, who previously served as chief executive and later as a parliamentary adviser to Endometriosis South Coast in Portsmouth, confirmed she had left the organisation, saying the decision was taken “in the best interests of myself, the charity and the vital work it does”.

Her departure follows public criticism from Reform UK MP Suella Braverman, who condemned Richards’ involvement with the charity and contacted the organisation in March to object to her role.

In a statement posted on X, Richards did not directly reference the criticism but suggested the decision formed part of wider changes in her professional life. “Further to my recent resignation as CEO of TransLucent and changes in my life generally, an opportunity recently arose to work more closely with Women’s Action Network Portsmouth,” she wrote.

Trans advocate Steph Richards blames ‘transphobia’ for backlash after endometriosis charity appointment

Steph Richards, a respected trans activist and charity lobbyist, has responded to a wave of gender‑critical backlash following her appointment as Parliamentary Engagement Officer at Endometriosis South Coast. Her appearance on Good Morning Britain on 1 April 2026 drew significant public attention, as Richards addressed critics who argued that

Scene MagazineGraham Robson

Braverman had previously described Richards’ role as “insulting and inappropriate” to women affected by endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other parts of the body such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

In her letter to Endometriosis South Coast, Braverman argued that the charity’s decision undermined women’s voices, writing that it was “remarkable” for an organisation focused on women’s health to appoint “a man, without female anatomy or experience of this disease”. She claimed the appointment “erases women from their own health issues” and criticised what she called “male self‑identification”.

Richards has previously rejected claims that her involvement in endometriosis awareness was inappropriate, describing the backlash as transphobic and rooted in misinformation. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour in 2023, she said: “I was brought in to raise awareness of endometriosis full stop, and also to raise the profile of Endometriosis South Coast. It’s pretty amazing that in five days I’ve achieved that - and the vehicle that’s done that is transphobia.”

She has consistently described herself as a passionate women’s health campaigner, arguing that effective advocacy does not require personal experience of a condition but commitment, expertise and compassion.

That view was echoed by Jodie Hughes, the founder of Endometriosis South Coast, who told Woman’s Hour at the time: “The CEO of Prostate Cancer UK is a woman - they can’t get prostate cancer.”

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK and is widely under‑diagnosed and under‑researched. Advocates continue to stress the importance of inclusive, well‑resourced campaigning that brings attention to the condition wherever possible.