Supreme Court rules on the definition of 'woman'
Associate Jessica Keal comments on the Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of 'woman', under the Equality Act 2010, is based on biological sex and does not extend to include certificated sex, in The Law Society Gazette and Today's Family Lawyer.
"The decision of the Supreme Court is right at the heart of where several competing rights collide, meaning that there will always be groups who are disappointed by the outcome.
"The transgender community has faced much upheaval lately with the publication of the Cass Review and the ban on the prescription of puberty blockers to children and young people, and today’s decision will be seen by many as another blow.
"This ruling will have real implications for transgender women and their rights to use single-sex services and spaces, but it also impacts biological women who have fought hard to secure single-sex spaces where they feel safe.
"Undoubtedly there will be further occasions such as this where the rights of transgender individuals compete with the rights of other protected groups, and a decision must be made as to how best to navigate this difficult area."
An extract of Jessica's comments was published in The Law Society Gazette, 16 April 2025, and Today's Family Lawyer, 17 April 2025.
