Displaying items by tag: biological women

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has unanimously declared that the legal definition of 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, excluding trans women from that category. The judgment arose from a case brought by campaign group For Women Scotland, challenging Scottish legislation aimed at increasing female representation on public boards. The Court ruled that equating legal gender recognition with biological sex would undermine the consistency of the act and create confusion in sex-based protections. Supporters of the ruling hailed it as a victory for safeguarding single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and shelters, and for providing clarity in public policy. Critics, however, warned that the ruling could erode protections for transgender individuals and increase social hostility. The court affirmed that transgender individuals remain protected under the act through the characteristic of gender reassignment, but cannot be considered biological women under the law. The decision deepens an already divisive debate across the UK and raises questions for policymakers on how to balance competing rights within a changing cultural landscape.