Overview
- The UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that under the Equality Act 2010, the terms 'woman' and 'sex' refer to biological sex, excluding transgender women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) from the legal definition of 'woman.'
- The ruling impacts access to single-sex spaces such as hospital wards, shelters, and changing rooms, which must now be reserved exclusively for biological women.
- Transgender individuals remain protected under the Equality Act against discrimination, harassment, and victimization based on gender reassignment.
- The judgment resolves a legal challenge initiated by For Women Scotland against Scottish government guidance that included transgender women with GRCs in the definition of 'woman.'
- The decision has sparked polarized reactions, with some celebrating it as a victory for biological women's rights and others warning of its potential to marginalize transgender individuals.