One year ago on April 16, the UK Supreme Court made a significant ruling that the terms “woman” and “man” in the Equality Act 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, and supported by other Justices, unanimously concluded that the term ‘woman’ in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.
Since the ruling, concerns have been raised by trans activists and charities regarding potential negative impacts on the trans community. A recent report titled “2025 Trans Segregation in Practice” includes accounts from individuals, both cis and trans, who have felt excluded from society within a short period following the ruling.
The report highlights that around 53% of trans respondents and 17% of cis respondents in the UK have experienced being stopped, questioned, or harassed when entering gendered spaces throughout their adult lives.
Reflecting on the ruling’s effects on the trans community, Helen Belcher, director at TransActual, expressed how it has disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of trans individuals. The lack of clarity on where basic activities like using public toilets or changing rooms can be carried out has left trans and gender non-conforming people feeling unsafe in British society.
Following the ruling, a group called Not In Our Name (NION) emerged to counter the narrative portraying the ruling as a victory for cis women. NION advocates for the acceptance and inclusion of trans individuals, rejecting the discrimination and exclusion faced by the trans community.
The NION open letter, opposing discrimination against trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals in the name of cis women, has garnered nearly 100,000 signatures and received support from influential figures such as Carla Denyer MP, Kate Nash, and David Tennant.
To show support for the trans+ community, women can add their signature to the Not In Our Name letter by visiting the provided link.