The ruling came after a long legal battle between the Scottish government and a women’s group
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE BY GETTY
The UK Supreme Court has made the “unanimous decision” that the terms “woman” and “sex” refer to biological women and biological sex in the Equality Act 2010.
This decision follows a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women’s group For Women Scotland, with the Scottish government arguing that trans people with a gender recognition certification (GRC) are entitled to sex-based protections.
After Lord Hodge announced this ruling, he went on to say: “The Equality Act 2010 gives transgender people protection not only against discrimination through the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment in substance in their acquired gender.”
People have been quick to respond to this news, voicing concerns about the way this will now impact trans rights. The Good Law Project were quick to share their worries on X, writing: “The Supreme Court sided with FWS. But it didn’t hear from a single trans person. This ruling sets a dangerous precedent and erases trans women from protections. It puts trans rights back 20 years. We won’t stop fighting for trans rights.”
Edinburgh-based charity Scottish Trans has urged people not to “panic” following the ruling. Taking to Bluesky, they wrote: “There will be lots of commentary coming out quickly that is likely to deliberately overstate the impact that this decision is going to have on all trans people’s lives. We’ll say more as soon as we’re able to. Please look out for yourselves and each other today.”
This is a breaking story, more information to follow.
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