What does the UK Supreme Court ruling mean for transgender women?
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
What landmark Supreme Court ruling means for transgender women
- The UK Supreme Court has ruled that "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, meaning that transgender women are not legally considered women under the Act.
- This decision arose from a legal challenge by For Women Scotland, backed by author JK Rowling, regarding gender quotas on public boards.
- The ruling impacts trans women's representation on boards and may affect access to single-sex spaces, such as women’s refuges and changing rooms.
- While trans people remain protected from discrimination under the Equality Act, the ruling's implications for single-sex spaces require further clarification.
- The decision is expected to reignite debate on sex and gender and may prompt revisions to the Equality Act.