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AIBU To celebrate the government finally releasing guidance on keeping single sex spaces single sex? Even if it is more than a year after the Supreme Court judgement

108 replies

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 21/05/2026 07:56

Nobody is banned from toilets, changing rooms or indeed anywhere else, but males must use the male facilities and females use the female facilities. Where possible gender neutral facilities may be provided AS WELL, but not instead of.

There will be a huge amount of disinformation about this rolling around today, but nobody is banned from anything, other than intruding upon the opposite sex.

"The updated guidance is expected to make clear that employers and service providers should provide single-sex lavatories, changing rooms and washing facilities on the basis of biological sex, after the Supreme Court judgment in April last year that held the legal ­definition of “woman” in the Equality Act referred to biological sex."

https://www.thetimes.com/article/b0750d21-426a-45d5-8cee-9578e33c6d9c?shareToken=a2e55a09e70500c14807d8eb1713db03

Single-sex space guide to be published after year-long delay

Equality watchdog’s code instructs facilities to operate based on biological sex, putting an end to confusion for bosses but causing a headache for Labour

https://www.thetimes.com/article/b0750d21-426a-45d5-8cee-9578e33c6d9c?shareToken=a2e55a09e70500c14807d8eb1713db03

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Ikeasucks · 21/05/2026 17:53

Haven’t read it yet so i’ll celebrate (or not) once i see what it says

MNLurker1345 · 21/05/2026 17:59

Published and laid out to Parliament, finally.
No HoC speech on Gov.UK

Organisations receive clear, accessible guidance on how to implement equality law in updated draft Code of Practice
Government lays the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft updated Code of Practice in Parliament.
From:
Office for Equality and Opportunity, Equality and Human Rights Commission and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
Published
21 May 2026

Government lays the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft updated Code of Practice in Parliament
The draft Code provides guidance to make the law clearer for service providers and others, protecting people’s rights across England, Scotland and Wales.
The approach is practical and proportionate, ensuring everyone can access services safely, free from harassment, and with dignity.
The Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, has laid the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations in Parliament.
Following the Supreme Court judgment which said that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, sex means biological sex and that trans people are still protected by the Act under the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, the EHRC draft Code’s content on sex and gender reassignment has been updated.
Organisations should continue to follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court, taking specialist legal advice if needed. The draft Code gives organisations clear, workable guidance which will enable them to take a pragmatic approach to protecting and serving the needs of our society. Following EHRC’s consultation with a range of services, the draft Code supports providers in ensuring they can make practical, and ultimately sensible decisions for every day scenarios, such as toilet provision.
Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities said:
The Equality Act enshrines our rights in law so that people can live free from discrimination and harassment.
Our focus has always been making sure organisations have clear, accessible guidance on how to implement the law.
I thank the EHRC for their work updating the draft Code of Practice, and look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure people’s rights are upheld across our country.
The government is proud of the Equality Act 2010 and will protect and uphold it. The draft Code is an important supplement to ensure organisations across Great Britain have clear and workable guidance on its implementation, to protect people’s rights across our country. It covers all 9 protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010.
The EHRC updates to the Code reflect changes in the law since 2011, including the Supreme Court clarification on the definition of sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. Other changes include:
new protections for women whose menopause has a significant impact on their everyday life
updates to reflect legislative changes on same-sex marriage
clarification that women who breastfeed are also protected from harassment
A number of other changes were made as part of updating the 2011 Code of Practice across all protected characteristics, including highlighting protections for disabled people, and advice on pregnancy and maternity discrimination as well as age discrimination.
Breaking down the barriers to opportunity is at the heart of this government’s mission for national renewal. By clearly setting out the law across all protected characteristics, the draft Code will help organisations make sure that everyone has a fair shot in life.

Office for Equality and Opportunity

We lead on equality policy including women’s equality, race equality, LGBT+ equality, disability equality, socio-economic equality and the overall framework of equality legislation for the UK. OEO works with the Cabinet Office .

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-equality-and-opportunity

EasternStandard · 21/05/2026 18:10

MNLurker1345 · 21/05/2026 17:59

Published and laid out to Parliament, finally.
No HoC speech on Gov.UK

Organisations receive clear, accessible guidance on how to implement equality law in updated draft Code of Practice
Government lays the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft updated Code of Practice in Parliament.
From:
Office for Equality and Opportunity, Equality and Human Rights Commission and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
Published
21 May 2026

Government lays the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft updated Code of Practice in Parliament
The draft Code provides guidance to make the law clearer for service providers and others, protecting people’s rights across England, Scotland and Wales.
The approach is practical and proportionate, ensuring everyone can access services safely, free from harassment, and with dignity.
The Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, has laid the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) draft updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations in Parliament.
Following the Supreme Court judgment which said that, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, sex means biological sex and that trans people are still protected by the Act under the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, the EHRC draft Code’s content on sex and gender reassignment has been updated.
Organisations should continue to follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court, taking specialist legal advice if needed. The draft Code gives organisations clear, workable guidance which will enable them to take a pragmatic approach to protecting and serving the needs of our society. Following EHRC’s consultation with a range of services, the draft Code supports providers in ensuring they can make practical, and ultimately sensible decisions for every day scenarios, such as toilet provision.
Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities said:
The Equality Act enshrines our rights in law so that people can live free from discrimination and harassment.
Our focus has always been making sure organisations have clear, accessible guidance on how to implement the law.
I thank the EHRC for their work updating the draft Code of Practice, and look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure people’s rights are upheld across our country.
The government is proud of the Equality Act 2010 and will protect and uphold it. The draft Code is an important supplement to ensure organisations across Great Britain have clear and workable guidance on its implementation, to protect people’s rights across our country. It covers all 9 protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010.
The EHRC updates to the Code reflect changes in the law since 2011, including the Supreme Court clarification on the definition of sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. Other changes include:
new protections for women whose menopause has a significant impact on their everyday life
updates to reflect legislative changes on same-sex marriage
clarification that women who breastfeed are also protected from harassment
A number of other changes were made as part of updating the 2011 Code of Practice across all protected characteristics, including highlighting protections for disabled people, and advice on pregnancy and maternity discrimination as well as age discrimination.
Breaking down the barriers to opportunity is at the heart of this government’s mission for national renewal. By clearly setting out the law across all protected characteristics, the draft Code will help organisations make sure that everyone has a fair shot in life.

Having looked at the other thread it appears to be neither clear nor accessible.

MNLurker1345 · 21/05/2026 18:14

Cutting VAT on theme parks has had more coverage than this politically historic moment.

May their consciences prick them all the days of their lives.

WarriorN · 21/05/2026 18:14

From Twitter

AIBU To celebrate the government finally releasing guidance on keeping single sex spaces single sex? Even if it is more than a year after the Supreme Court judgement
MNLurker1345 · 21/05/2026 18:22

@EasternStandard that is intentional isn’t it.
Procedural, careful language.

But it is the Supreme Court ruling. They buried it,
they don’t like but it is now published and must be adhered to, unless seriously challenged over the next 40 days.

BridgetPhillipsonIsACowardlyJobsworth · 21/05/2026 18:46

EasternStandard · 21/05/2026 18:10

Having looked at the other thread it appears to be neither clear nor accessible.

It's not. And I think what some posters, with I assume some legal background, are saying (I think) is that we'll just have to rely on the law, and be prepared to take legal action. Again. And again.

So, basically, there's little help from the guidance.

(But, that more legal action should start to trickle down to service providers. Eventually.)

(But, women will just have to keep taking people to court.)

I'm hoping we might get a bit of clarity from Sex Matters. There's an initial response out , but haven't had time to read it yet.

EasternStandard · 21/05/2026 18:54

BridgetPhillipsonIsACowardlyJobsworth · 21/05/2026 18:46

It's not. And I think what some posters, with I assume some legal background, are saying (I think) is that we'll just have to rely on the law, and be prepared to take legal action. Again. And again.

So, basically, there's little help from the guidance.

(But, that more legal action should start to trickle down to service providers. Eventually.)

(But, women will just have to keep taking people to court.)

I'm hoping we might get a bit of clarity from Sex Matters. There's an initial response out , but haven't had time to read it yet.

Yes that’s my initial take too. It’s back to court cases rather than any guidance which is clear.

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