Trans women banned from using women’s toilets in parliament
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Trans women barred from women’s toilets in parliament, prompting claims of ‘knee-jerk response’
- The Commons has updated its guidance for single-sex bathroom facilities for visitors.
- Under the new guidance, visitors to parliament are advised to use toilets corresponding to their biological sex or gender-neutral facilities, leading to accusations of a 'knee-jerk response' to a recent legal ruling.
- This policy change follows a complaint about a trans woman using women’s facilities and a Supreme Court ruling on the interpretation of 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010.
- The updated guidance does not apply to parliamentary staff, who can continue to use facilities appropriate for their gender.
- Critics argue the new rule is a human rights violation, will cause distress for trans people, and underscores the need for clear, workable guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.