UK Supreme Court Considers Legal Definition of 'Woman' in Landmark Case

The case challenges whether biological sex or gender identity should determine legal protections under the Equality Act 2010.

The UK Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether the term 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex or includes individuals with gender recognition certificates (GRCs).
The case stems from a Scottish law aiming to increase women's representation on public boards, which included trans women with GRCs in its definition of 'woman.'
For Women Scotland, a campaign group, argues that sex is an immutable biological reality and that including trans women undermines women's rights in single-sex spaces and services.
The Scottish government contends that the law treats GRC holders as female and that excluding them could lead to discrimination claims under the Equality Act.
The decision, expected next year, could have wide-ranging implications for single-sex spaces such as refuges, prisons, and sports, as well as broader gender equality policies.