A group of men’s charities has signed a letter to the equalities watchdog, asking it to clarify how their services should implement its new code of practice.
More than 20 leaders of not-for-profit organisations providing services to men and boys warned the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) that its guidance could lead to unfair accusations of workplace discrimination.
The EHRC’s new code, updated following last year’s Supreme Court ruling which concluded that “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to “biological sex”, will come into force on 5 August.
However, the letter argues that there is a clash between sex-based rules and gender protections.
“The recently updated draft […] appears to have created contradictory obligations, operational uncertainty, and risks to service continuity for our sector,” reads the letter penned by Ally Fogg, Association for Male Health and Wellbeing chair.
In particular, the letter takes issue with guidance which states that male-only services must now be based on “biological sex”, while the act expects organisations not to treat trans or non-binary people “less favourably”.
“Our staff, volunteers and members often operate in emotionally charged environments involving trauma, crisis, or acute distress,” it reads.
“They may now be required to make rapid decisions [on complex matters].
“The risk of a procedural misstep is high and the consequences potentially severe.”
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