By Seyi Babalola
The UK Supreme Court has declared that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act mean a biological woman and biological sex, in a triumph for gender-critical activists.
Five judges of the UK Supreme Court unanimously found that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 did not cover transgender people who have gender recognition certificates (GRCs).
The court verdict marks a huge loss for the Scottish government, since transgender people will no longer be able to serve on public boards in posts reserved for women.
It may have far-reaching consequences, including further limits on transgender women’s rights to utilise services and venues reserved for women, as well as calls for the UK’s gender recognition legislation to be changed.
The UK government said the ruling “brings clarity and confidence” for women and those who run hospitals, sports clubs and women’s refuges.
A spokesperson said: “We have always supported the protection of single sex spaces based on biological sex. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”