Stephen Whittle

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Stephen Whittle

Professor Emeritus of Equalities Law

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Biography

Stephen started his academic career teaching Family Lives and Social Policy with the Open University. He joined Manchester Metropolitan University as a lecturer in Law in 1993. He progressed to senior lecturer, then Reader, and in 2006 was made Professor of Equalities Law.

Stephen transitioned from female to male in 1975. He already had a degree in Geography in African and Asian Studies from Sussex University, but after losing numerous jobs because of being transgender, he was working in the property development and building trade when in 1985 he decided to obtain legal training on the part time LLB evening course at Manchester Metropolitan University. He primarily wanted to challenge the discrimination he and other trans people experienced. He went on to obtain a Masters, and a PhD.

In 1992, Stephen was a co-founder of Press for Change (PFC), the UK’s trans rights lobby group. PFC’s very successful campaigns have resulted in several major case law successes at the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, which have led to significant legal changes since the mid-1990s, including the Gender Recognition Act 2004, and full protection under the Equality Act 2010. Stephen has advised on transgender rights and law to the UK, Scottish, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Hong Kong, and South African governments, as well as the European Union & the Commission, and the Council of Europe. He regularly advises lawyers and writes briefs, or is an expert witness, for courts worldwide. He has authored many academic papers, non-academic articles, several books and writes a regular blog.

Recently he has worked with Dr Sara Davidmann from the University of the Arts London, in creating exhibitions on what it means trans person be trans. In 2013, he advised on, and wrote the historical timeline for Liverpool Museum’s exhibition Portrait of a Lady, the history of transsexual people in the UK told through the story of model, April Ashley.

He has received numerous awards for his work on Transgender rights, including:

2016 Elected Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences
2016 ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the UK’s Sparkle Charity National Transgender Awards2014 DLaws (Honoris Causa), Sussex University, in recognition of his contribution to Equalities and Human Rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People
2014 the American Bar Association’s Stonewall award for his contribution to “removing barriers and championing diversity for the LGBT community, both within the legal profession and impacting the greater human universe”
2013 Frank Kemeny Life Time Achievement Award from the USA’s National LGBT Bar Association for his commitment to providing guidance and inspiration to activists and other lawyers, and pro-bono amicus briefs to the US and international courts and governments in the campaign for transgender rights.
2007 Lambda Literary Award for ‘The Transgender Studies Reader’ (with Susan Stryker, 2006, New York: Routledge).
2005 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list; Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work on ‘gender rights’.
2002 Human Rights Award (2002) from Liberty, the Law Society and Justice on behalf of the UK’s Human Rights Legal Profession for his contribution to the law recognising the Human Rights of Transgender People

Academic biography

Academic and professional qualifications

Phd (MMU),
MA Crime, Deviance and Social Policy (Lancaster),
LLB (MMU),
BA Geography (Sussex)

Other academic service (administration and management)

Research Development,
Postgraduate Supervision,
Teaching at Undergraduate: Law and Society;
Teaching at Postgraduate: Research Methods Training Programme, European Equalities & Human Rights Law

Languages

English

BSL

Get in touch

0161 247 6444
6.15 Sandra Burslem Building

Impact

A handheld trans pride flag being waved by a hand that's just out of shot.

Protecting hopeful futures for transgender people

How one man's experiences helped shape decades of influential equalities law research.

Find out more

Research outputs

  • Books (authored/edited/special issues)

    Whittle, S. Respect and Equality. Routledge-Cavendish.

    Whittle, S. (2018) Trans-Inclusive Workplaces - A Guide for Employers and Businesses. TGEU.

    Whittle, S.T. (2016) The Ultimate Practice Guide to Transgender and Transsexual Human Rights and Equality Law in the UK. Press for Change.

    Whittle, S. (2013) Foreword.

    Whittle, S. (2013) Foreword.

    Stryker, S., Whittle, S. (2013) The transgender studies reader.

    Whittle, S.T., Turner, L. (2009) Transphobic: Hate Crime in the European Union. London: Press for Change.

  • Chapters in books

    Whittle, S., Simkiss, F. (2020) 'A perfect storm: The UK government's failed consultation on the Gender Recognition Act 2004.' Research Handbook on Gender, Sexuality and the Law. pp. 211-231.

    Whittle, S. (2019) 'Pressing for Change: The Foundation Stone of a Genderqueer Europe.' Transgender: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO,

    Clucas, R., Whittle, S.T. (2018) 'Law.' In Richards, C., Bouman, W.P., Barker, M.J. (ed.) Genderqueer and non-binary genders. Basinstoke: Palgrave Macmillan,

    Dayes, J. (2018) 'Foreword.' Grief Demystified: An Introduction. Jessica Kingsley Publishers,

    Whittle, S.T. (2017) 'Employment Issues for Transgender and Gender Variant People: A Legal Perspective.' In Bouman, W., Arcelus, J. (ed.) The Transgender Handbook – A Guide for Transgender People, their Families and Professionals. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., pp. 359-372.

    Whittle, S.T. (2016) 'Sensible Policy, Excellent Practice: Challenging the 'Common Sense' of Legal Recognition for Transsexual People.' Transforming Law: Bringing China's Jurisprudence into the 21st Century. Hong Kong: Red Publishing,

    Whittle, S.T., Turner, L. (2016) 'Queer Europe: new normative values for global LGBT law.' In Horlacher, S. (ed.) Transgender and Intersex: theoretical, practical, and artistic perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 29-65.

    Whittle, S. (2013) 'Where did we go wrong? feminism and trans theory—two teams on the same side?.' The Transgender Studies Reader. pp. 194-202.

  • Reports

    Dhanda, M., Waughray, A., Keane, D., Mosse, D., Green, R., Whittle, S. (2014) Caste in Britain: Socio-Legal Review. Equality and Human Rights Commission.

    Whittle, S.T. (2013) The Gender Variant Child’s Right to Attend School: A Guide to UK Law for the Transgender Community, Parents, & Schools. London: Press for Change.

    Whittle, S.T. (2013) Changing Names & Changing Legal Gender: A Guide to UK Law for Organisations. Employers & The Transgender Community. London: Press For Change.

    Coleman, E., Bockting, W., Botzer, M., Cohen-Kettenis, P., DeCuypere, G., Feldman, J., Fraser, L., Green, J., Knudson, G., Meyer, W.J., Monstrey, S., Adler, R.K., Brown, G.R., Devor, A.H., Ehrbar, R., Ettner, R., Eyler, E., Garofalo, R., Karasic, D.H., Lev, A.I., Mayer, G., Meyer-Bahlburg, H., Hall, B.P., Pfäfflin, F., Rachlin, K., Robinson, B., Schechter, L.S., Tangpricha, V., van Trotsenburg, M., Vitale, A., Winter, S., Whittle, S.T., Wylie, K.R., Zucker, K. (2012) Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People. WPATH.

  • Internet publications

    Whittle, S.T. (2013) April Ashley: A Trans Hero Who Changed The World. http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/april-ashley-trans-hero-who-changed-world260913.

  • Journal articles

    Coleman, E., Bockting, W., Botzer, M., Cohen-Kettenis, P., De Cuypere, G., Feldman, J., Fraser, L., Green, J., Knudson, G., Meyer, W.J., Monstrey, S., Adler, R.K., Brown, G.R., Devor, A.H., Ehrbar, R., Ettner, R., Eyler, E., Garofalo, R., Karasic, D.H., Lev, A.I., Mayer, G., Meyer-Bahlburg, H., Hall, B.P., Pfäfflin, F., Rachlin, K., Robinson, B., Schechter, L.S., Tangpricha, V., van Trotsenburg, M., Vitale, A., Winter, S., Whittle, S., Wylie, K.R., Zucker, K. (2018) 'Normas de Atención para la salud de personas trans y con variabilidad de género: La Asociación Mundial para la Salud Transgénero.' International Journal of Transgenderism, 19(3) pp. 287-354.

    Alexandra Beauregard, T., Arevshatian, L., Booth, J.E., Whittle, S. (2016) 'Listen carefully: transgender voices in the workplace.' International Journal of Human Resource Management, pp. 1-28.

    Winter, S., Diamond, M., Green, J., Karasic, D., Reed, T., Whittle, S., Wylie, K. (2016) 'Transgender people: health at the margins of society.' Lancet (London, England), 388(10042) pp. 390-400.

    Whittle, S. (2013) 'Teorizando el cambio. La historia y desarrollo de una Europa queer (Theorising the change. The history and development of a queer Europe).' Anuario de Derechos Humanos, (9) pp. 17-42.

    Coleman, E., Bockting, W., Botzer, M., Cohen-Kettenis, P., DeCuypere, G., Feldman, J., Fraser, L., Green, J., Knudson, G., Meyer, W.J., Monstrey, S., Adler, R.K., Brown, G.R., Devor, A.H., Ehrbar, R., Ettner, R., Eyler, E., Garofalo, R., Karasic, D.H., Lev, A.I., Mayer, G., Meyer-Bahlburg, H., Hall, B.P., Pfaefflin, F., Rachlin, K., Robinson, B., Schechter, L.S., Tangpricha, V., van Trotsenburg, M., Vitale, A., Winter, S., Whittle, S., Wylie, K.R., Zucker, K. (2012) 'Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender-Nonconforming People, Version 7.' International Journal of Transgenderism, 13(4) pp. 165-232.

    Green, J., McGowan, S., Levi, J., Wallbank, R., Whittle, S. (2011) 'Recommendations from the WPATH Consensus Process for Revision of the DSM Diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorders: Implications for Human Rights.' International Journal of Transgenderism, 13(1) pp. 1-4.

    Bœuf, C., Diamond, M., Haritaworn, J., He-say, V., Noble, J.B., Whittle, S., Bourcier, M.H., Molinier, P. (2008) 'Masculinités queer, trans et post-trans : les rejetons du féminisme.' Cahiers du Genre, 45(2) pp. 85-85.

    Whittle, S., Turner, L. (2007) '''Sex changes'? Paradigm shifts in 'sex' and 'gender' following the gender recognition act?'.' Sociological Research Online, 12(1) pp. 1-15.

    Whittle, S.T. (2007) '‘Respectively male and female’: The failures of the Gender Recognition Act (2005) and the Civil Partnership Act (2005).' Lesbian and Gay Psychology Review, 8(1)

    Whittle, S. (2006) 'The opposite of sex is politics - The UK gender recognition act and why it is not perfect, just like you and me.' Journal of Gender Studies, 15(3) pp. 267-271.

    Whittle, S. (2005) 'Period of transition.' Occupational Health, 57(5) pp. 10-11.

    WITTEN, T.A.R.Y.N.N.M., WHITTLE, S.T.E.P.H.E.N. (2004) 'TRANSPANTHERS: THE GREYING OF TRANSGENDER AND THE LAW.' Deakin Law Review, 9(2) pp. 504-504.

    Kaur, H.D., Whittle, S. (2003) 'Harminder Dosanjh Kaur interviewed stephen whittle on recent legislation affecting transgender people.' JOURNAL OF GENDER STUDIES, 12(2) pp. 137-141.

    Hartley, C.F., Whittle, S. (2003) 'Different sexed and gendered bodies demand different ways of thinking about policy and practice.' Practice, 15(3) pp. 61-73.

    Little, C., Stephens, P., Whittle, S. (2002) 'The Praxis and Politics of Policing: Problems Facing Transgender People.' QUT Law Review, 2(2)

    Poole, L., Whittle, S., Stephens, P. (2002) 'Working With Transgendered And Transsexual People As Offenders In The Probation Service.' Probation Journal, 49(3) pp. 227-232.

    Whittle, S. (1998) 'Guest editorial.' Journal of Gender Studies, 7(3) pp. 269-272.

    Whittle, S. (1998) 'Special issue: Transgendering.' JOURNAL OF GENDER STUDIES, 7(3) pp. 269-272.

    Whittle, S. (1998) 'Gender outlaw: On men, women and the rest of us..' ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, 27(5) pp. 526-530.

    Whittle, S. (1998) 'The trans-cyberian mail way.' SOCIAL & LEGAL STUDIES, 7(3) pp. 389-408.

    Whittle, S. (1996) 'Transsexualism in society: A sociology of male-to-female transsexuals - Lewins,F.' JOURNAL OF GENDER STUDIES, 5(2) pp. 236-237.

    WHITTLE, S. (1995) 'OUTING - SHATTERING THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE - JOHANSSON,W, PERCY,WA.' JOURNAL OF GENDER STUDIES, 4(2) pp. 206-207.

  • Conference papers

    Whittle, S.T. (2017) 'The Manager's Role in Promoting Transgender Equality.' In EurOut Conference LGBTQ Student Business Conference. 17/11/2017 - 17/11/2017.

    Whittle, S.T. (2016) 'Gender Identity and the European Courts: Where Next?.' In Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Summer School in International Law. The Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, The Hague, 1/8/2016 - 5/8/2016.

    Whittle, S.T. (2016) 'The End of Gender: Invalidating the Trans-Identity and the Need to Be Someone.' In Trans Studies: Reflections and Advances. Leeds University, United Kingdom, 23/3/2016 - 23/3/2016.

    Whittle, S.T. (2016) 'Gender - What Future Does It Have?.' In Sydney Pride 2016 - Gender Trailblazers. Sydney, Australia, 26/2/2016 - 5/3/2016.

  • Scholarly editions

    Whittle, S.T., Turner, L. (2009) Trans Equality: A Toolkit for Colleges. Lancaster: Lancaster University Centre for Excellence in Leadership.

  • Other

    Whittle, S.T., Turner, L. (2017) Trans-Inclusive Workplaces – A Guide for Employers and Businesses is a Toolkit and Call for Action.

    Whittle, S.T. (2010) A brief history of transgender issues.