UK's top court rules 'woman' refers to biological sex

Britain’s highest court has ruled that only biological and not transgender women meet the definition of a woman under equality laws.

The landmark decision on Wednesday was greeted with concern by trans supporters but welcomed by the government as bringing clarity.

The much anticipated ruling centred on whether a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate (GRC), a formal document giving legal recognition of someone’s new gender, is protected from discrimination as a woman under Britain’s Equality Act.

The decision confirms single-sex services for women such as refuges, hospital wards and sports can exclude trans women, clearing up legal ambiguity. Transgender campaigners said the decision could lead to discrimination, especially over employment issues.

“The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms ‘women’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex,” Deputy President of the Supreme Court Patrick Hodge said.

“But we counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph for one or more groups in our society at the expense of another - it is not.”

Transgender rights have become a highly political issue in Britain and other parts of the world. Critics say the conservative right has weaponised identity politics to attack minority groups, while others argue that liberal support for transgender people has infringed on the rights of biological women.

In the United States, legal challenges are under way after President Donald Trump issued executive orders that include barring transgender people from military service.

Wednesday’s judgment in Britain followed legal action by a campaign group, For Women Scotland (FWS), against guidance issued by the devolved Scottish government that accompanied a 2018 law designed to increase the proportion of women on public sector boards.

The guidance said a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate was legally a woman. FWS, which was backed by lesbian rights groups, lost its case in the Scottish courts, but the Supreme Court ruled in its favour.

“Today the judges have said what we always believed to be the case: that women are protected by their biological sex, that sex is real and that women can now feel safe that services and spaces designated for women are for women,” Susan Smith, co-director of FWS, told cheering supporters outside court.

Britain’s Labour government said the Supreme Court’s decision would bring clarity for hospitals, refuges and sports clubs.

“Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government,” a government spokesperson said.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who has been vocally gender critical, was among those who welcomed the decision.

“It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK,” Rowling said on X.

The Supreme Court said trans people - whether trans women or men - would not be disadvantaged by its decision as the Equality Act afforded them protection against discrimination or harassment.

Trans rights campaigners said the ruling had worrying implications.

Campaigner ‪Ellie Gomersall said it was “another attack on the rights of trans people to live our lives in peace”.

Legal experts said the ruling showed equality legislation might need to be urgently updated to ensure trans people were protected.