United Kingdom : Supreme court ruling endangers trans women’s rights
12 May 2025
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Rights at stake and state’s obligations
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On April 16, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based solely on biological sex, not gender. Although the term “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act (a piece of legislation passed by the UK Parliament to combat discrimination) did not originally refer exclusively to biological sex, the court has now chosen to clarify this definition in a patriarchal and repressive way.
As a result of this new legal interpretation, trans women will no longer have automatic access to women-only services and spaces such as changing rooms, shelters for homeless individuals, and certain medical services. Trans women will face very real consequences and will no longer be protected under laws against sex-based discrimination.
This new ruling by the Supreme Court reflects a transphobic and patriarchal vision. It reinforces the idea that a woman’s identity is inherently tied to motherhood. Moreover, it significantly undermines the possibility for individuals to update their identity documents, putting trans women’s safety at risk at a time when states are increasingly seeking to impose social control over trans people.