A facilitated community discussion hosted by Sahir in response to the recent UK Supreme Court ruling interpreting the word “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 as referring to biological sex. This urgent meeting was convened to reflect, discuss the potential impacts, and generate actions that support the rights and dignity of our trans and gender diverse community.
In April 2025, the UK Supreme Court redefined the term “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 to mean “biological sex”. While this ruling does not create new legal obligations for individuals, it grants institutions greater discretion to exclude trans people from single-sex spaces like toilets, changing rooms, and refuges.
The ruling has triggered serious concern among legal experts, human rights advocates, healthcare professionals, and community members alike. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) followed up with interim guidance – non-statutory and not legally binding – that some lawyers argue may breach the European Convention on Human Rights. Transgender former judge Dr Victoria Mccloud has announced plans to challenge the decision in the European Court of Human Rights.
