The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court has issued a unanimous ruling stating that the legal term “woman” under the Equality Act refers strictly to individuals assigned female at birth. The decision excludes transgender women, even those with legal recognition under gender reform laws, from qualifying under single-sex provisions in specific legal contexts.
The case stemmed from a challenge to Scottish government policy that aimed to include transgender women in female representation quotas for public sector boards. The court determined that this interpretation conflicted with the original language and intention of the Equality Act, which it confirmed was based on biological sex.
The decision has sparked widespread reaction. Women’s rights advocates have welcomed the ruling, calling it a reaffirmation of protections for female-only spaces and legal clarity on sex-based rights. Among the supporters was author J.K. Rowling, who has been outspoken in her views on gender and sex-based legislation, and expressed strong support for the ruling and those behind the legal challenge.
On the other hand, transgender advocacy groups voiced alarm, warning that the ruling could erode legal safeguards for trans individuals and promote discrimination under the guise of legal precision.
The ruling has drawn a line in ongoing legal and cultural debates over how gender identity and biological sex are treated under UK law. Government officials say they will use the decision as a framework for maintaining the integrity of single-sex provisions, while Scottish authorities are currently reviewing how the judgment will influence future legislation.