One year ago today on April 16, the UK Supreme Court made a significant ruling regarding the definition of “woman” and “man” in the Equality Act, stating that these terms should be based solely on “biological sex.” This decision came after For Women Scotland, a ‘gender critical’ volunteer organization, challenged the Scottish Government’s use of the term ‘woman.’
The judgment, delivered jointly by Lord Hodge, Lady Rose, and Lady Simler, with agreement from other Justices, unanimously clarified that the term ‘woman’ in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.
Following the ruling, concerns were raised by trans activists and charities about potential increased harm to the trans community. A recent report, the 2025 Trans Segregation in Practice, highlights testimonies from individuals, both cis and trans, who have felt excluded from society compared to just four months ago.
The report revealed that approximately 53% of trans respondents and 17% of cis respondents in the UK reported instances of being stopped, questioned, or harassed when entering gendered spaces throughout their adult lives.
Reflecting on the ruling’s impact on the trans community, Helen Belcher, director at TransActual, expressed how the ruling had disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of trans individuals. The lack of clarity on where trans and gender non-conforming people can perform basic activities in public, such as using toilets or changing rooms, has led to a significant feeling of unsafety in British society.
In response to the ruling, the collective Not In Our Name (NION) was formed to counter narratives that pit trans rights against women’s rights. NION advocates for the acceptance and inclusion of trans individuals and rejects any discrimination against them in the name of cisgendered women.
The NION open letter, rejecting discrimination and exclusion of trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people, has garnered nearly 100,000 signatures and received support from influential figures like Carla Denyer MP, Kate Nash, and David Tennant.
To show support for the trans+ community, women are encouraged to sign the Not In Our Name letter.
