Page 3 | What practical difference do you think the SC ruling will make?

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 2025-04-21T11:36:30+00:00

What do you think will change following the SC ruling on the definition of woman in the equality act?

LlynTegid · 21/04/2025 13:16

Prisons it probably will, maybe some groups supporting women who are victims of violence. Maybe in one or two sports that have not done so already.

Not sure about many others, because of lack of actual and social enforcement, or in some cases it will just be made clearer that those born male whose gender identity is female can use spaces marked for women.

spannasaurus · 21/04/2025 13:12

Where single services are not mandated then service providers could offer just mixed sex rather than single sex services but I'm not sure how well that will go down with the general public.

If a shop/gym/swimming pool wants to have only mixed sex changing rooms they can but I can't see that the majority of their customers are going to be happy with it

Skiol · 21/04/2025 13:08

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:59

I can understand why some trans people will feel like this an attack on them, although I don't believe it is.

I think that this whole thing has become framed as a battle between trans people and gender critical people when really, it's two groups fighting for their own interests.

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The feeling under attack is natural but childish. The way the activists went about things was hubristic and underhand. They thought they didn’t have to follow the proper process for getting what they wanted. This is the consequence.

They could have campaigned for this openly ten years ago and we as a society could have settled the question using the correct legal and democratic processes. Then they could have spent the last ten years fighting and fundraising for third spaces and open sports.

Original poster

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 13:02

spannasaurus · 21/04/2025 12:57

Single sex services are mandated under various legislation. Schools are required to provide single sex toilets and changing rooms and employers must provide single sex changing facilities if employees are required to change as part of their employment eg nurses

I think there is something very sinister about transwomen who insist on changing with women who don't want them there.

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Original poster

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:59

Skiol · 21/04/2025 12:56

The implications are huge, but I think a lot of organisations will await the EHRC guidance before doing anything.

Some organisations are likely to respond by scrapping single sex spaces, some will provide third spaces, most (imo) will stick with men’s and women’s facilities and will follow the law by making them actually single sex.

I find all the pushback really strange. This is what the law always said, but the TRAS wanted Stonewall law, so they covertly manipulated everyone to believe stonewall law was the law. But actually it was just ideology. Now if they want stonewall law they’re going to have to campaign for it as they should have done in the first place.

I can understand why some trans people will feel like this an attack on them, although I don't believe it is.

I think that this whole thing has become framed as a battle between trans people and gender critical people when really, it's two groups fighting for their own interests.

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spannasaurus · 21/04/2025 12:57

Single sex services are mandated under various legislation. Schools are required to provide single sex toilets and changing rooms and employers must provide single sex changing facilities if employees are required to change as part of their employment eg nurses

Original poster

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:57

Theeyeballsinthesky · 21/04/2025 12:55

You mean because trans women can’t be trusted to keep out of women’s spaces?

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I'm not here to make sweeping generalisations about any groups of people. I'm just trying to understand the implications of the ruling and what could change because of it.

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Skiol · 21/04/2025 12:56

The implications are huge, but I think a lot of organisations will await the EHRC guidance before doing anything.

Some organisations are likely to respond by scrapping single sex spaces, some will provide third spaces, most (imo) will stick with men’s and women’s facilities and will follow the law by making them actually single sex.

I find all the pushback really strange. This is what the law always said, but the TRAS wanted Stonewall law, so they covertly manipulated everyone to believe stonewall law was the law. But actually it was just ideology. Now if they want stonewall law they’re going to have to campaign for it as they should have done in the first place.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 21/04/2025 12:55

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:54

Yes thank you. So it could mean more unisex toilets, changing rooms etc. If it's considered easier to provide these than trying to police whether or not people using the single sex spaces are trans.

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You mean because trans women can’t be trusted to keep out of women’s spaces?

Original poster

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:54

spannasaurus · 21/04/2025 12:50

The Equality Act doesn't require you to provide single sex services instead it permits you to provide them if there is a legitimate reason. If single sex services are provided they can only be used on the basis of biological sex. So if there is a legitimate aim to have a female only space it can only be used by women.

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Yes thank you. So it could mean more unisex toilets, changing rooms etc. If it's considered easier to provide these than trying to police whether or not people using the single sex spaces are trans.

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spannasaurus · 21/04/2025 12:50

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:42

I accidentally posted before I'd finished. I was going to say....

From what I understand, the ruling clarifies that people are allowed to exclude transwomen from female spaces as their sex remains male. However that doesn't mean that they must. So in practice it might not make much difference to anything.

Is my interpretation correct?

The Equality Act doesn't require you to provide single sex services instead it permits you to provide them if there is a legitimate reason. If single sex services are provided they can only be used on the basis of biological sex. So if there is a legitimate aim to have a female only space it can only be used by women.

Original poster

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:50

ErrolTheDragon · 21/04/2025 12:45

I don’t think so. The case was specifically brought in response to the Scottish government including TW in their targets for women on boards. The ruling means they can’t do this even though they wanted to. They can add targets for representation of trans people if they want. (IANAL)

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Thank you, I hasn't considered this.
I guess the big change is for things like this, and collection of stats for who commits crimes etc.

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ErrolTheDragon · 21/04/2025 12:45

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:42

I accidentally posted before I'd finished. I was going to say....

From what I understand, the ruling clarifies that people are allowed to exclude transwomen from female spaces as their sex remains male. However that doesn't mean that they must. So in practice it might not make much difference to anything.

Is my interpretation correct?

I don’t think so. The case was specifically brought in response to the Scottish government including TW in their targets for women on boards. The ruling means they can’t do this even though they wanted to. They can add targets for representation of trans people if they want. (IANAL)

ErrolTheDragon · 21/04/2025 12:43

Organisations who believe in following the law may need to change various policies/facilities. There may be some which have been bullied by trans activists who may be relieved by the clarity.
others, unfortunately will think they’re above the law and continue not giving a shit about women and girls rights.

Original poster

GCornotGCthatisthequestion · 21/04/2025 12:42

I accidentally posted before I'd finished. I was going to say....

From what I understand, the ruling clarifies that people are allowed to exclude transwomen from female spaces as their sex remains male. However that doesn't mean that they must. So in practice it might not make much difference to anything.

Is my interpretation correct?

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WaffleParty · 21/04/2025 12:41

Hopefully nothing.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 21/04/2025 12:39

Nome unless it’s enforced which is of course the issue