Saturday, March 29, 2025
Fourteen national LGBTQ+ charities have written to UK Labour leader Keir Starmer. They seek an urgent meeting to address what they call “a genuine crisis” for the rights and dignity of trans people. This comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled on biological sex.
The Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 should refer only to “biological women” and “biological sex.” This decision, along with interim guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has raised concerns. Trans people could be excluded from using facilities that match their gender identity, including toilets.
Charity leaders, such as those from Stonewall and TransActual, argue that the ruling disrupts previous interpretations of the Equality Act. They say it creates confusion for businesses, services, and civil society. In a letter to the prime minister, charity heads warn that the ruling undermines the protection and dignity of trans people.
The EHRC recently updated its guidance. It stated that trans people should not be allowed to use gendered facilities of the gender they identify with. Charities criticized this stance as an overreach. They say it conflicts with the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Kishwer Falkner, chair of the EHRC, defended the judgment. She praised it as “a model of clarity” and urged lawmakers to read it carefully. Falkner also mentioned the commission would hold a public consultation in May to discuss the ruling’s implications.
The Good Law Project (GLP), a nonprofit legal group, is challenging the Supreme Court ruling. It has raised funds to back about 20 legal initiatives. One case is already in court. GLP will also provide guidance to trans people facing challenges using gendered spaces.
As the debate continues, LGBTQ+ charities stress the need for clear protections that uphold trans rights in the UK.
