What is a woman? The UK Supreme Court ruling
On April 16th, the Supreme Court in London
ruled
unanimously that 'the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex'.
The ruling came in response to a legal dispute between the activist group For Women Scotland and the Scottish government over whether trans people with gender recognition certificates (GRC) identifying their gender as female were considered as having the sex of a woman.
For Women Scotland had argued that the sex-based protections in the Act should only apply to people born female and that sex is 'immutable biological state'.
The judgment, which ran to more than 80 pages, found that 'the concept of sex is binary' – there is a female and a male.
READ MORE
It went on to say that the legislation gives transgender people 'protection, not only against discrimination through the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment in substance in their acquired gender'.
The judgment has come as a blow to the transgender community, particularly to transwomen who fear it will marginalise them further.
Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul explains the ruling and its implications.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and John Casey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Murdered Scottish gangsters linked to Kinahan Cartel's €157m cocaine shipment
Fears that double killing could signal Irish gangsters' involvement in new mob war The pair, who were shot dead in an attack at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol eight days ago, were key figures in the Glasgow-based Lyons crime gang. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP and former crime journalist Russell Findlay yesterday told the Sunday World a major concern for Stephen Lyons at this moment is whether the Kinahans may have, in fact, sanctioned the hit. The scene at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol where Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were gunned down . 'We already know the Kinahans' involvement in the Scottish drug trade is significant,' he said. 'Their connections with the Lyons have fuelled gangland violence in Scotland and escalated it over the years. 'In the paranoid world of organised crime, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of speculation, but what I suppose this boils down to, is either the Kinahans have had a hand in these murders due to some unknown internal fallout or they have seen two of their allies gunned down in cold blood. 'If it is the latter, then the expectation would be there will be some kind of retribution. 'If I was in Stephen Lyons' shoes, living my luxury air-conditioned lifestyle in Dubai, I would be seeking a meeting with the Kinahans at the earliest possible opportunity to work out who has been responsible for this. Gangsters Eddie Lyons Jnr 'But the real fear now is this will only fuel gangland violence, not just in Spain, but also in the streets of Scotland.' In the immediate aftermath of the double assassination at Monaghan's bar, speculation immediately connected the killings to a feud between the Lyons and the rival Daniel gang in Scotland. An escalation in that feud has resulted in assaults, shootings and fire-bombings across Glasgow and Edinburgh in recent months. Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025 However, a Lyons family member subsequently discounted this theory, while a statement by Police Scotland said there is 'nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland'. Spanish police are instead understood to be focussed on the likelihood the murders are linked to wider gangland tensions – and are making inquiries to determine what if any stance the Kinahans had taken on the killings. Ross Monaghan Lyons (46), and Monaghan (43) died when a gunman opened fire on them in the Fuengirola bar – where the pair had watched the Champions League final, at about 11pm on the night of the killings. The gunman then fled the scene in a car. Sources say the Daniel gang had shied away from making any moves against the Lyons in Spain due to their connections with the Kinahan mob and believe it unlikely their attitude would have changed sufficiently for involvement in the double killing likely. Outlining the background to the Kinahan's alliance with the Lyons and the effect this had on their feud with the Daniel gang, our source referred to a triple shooting in Scotland that occurred at an MOT station in the Lambhill area of the city in 2006. In that shooting, Stephen Lyons was badly wounded, as was his associate Robert Pickett, while Stephen's cousin Michael Lyons was shot dead. A source said: 'Going way back, there was a triple shooting in Glasgow at an MOT station, Stephen was shot, his cousin Michael was murdered, and a third man Pickett was shot. 'That resulted in Stephen fleeing to Spain. And it was that, fleeing to Spain, that was either the catalyst for the Kinahan connection being made or that made it bigger than it had already been. Russell Findlay 'At that point, some Daniel gang-related associate was in the Costa del Sol and ascertained the Lyons were close to the Kinahans and took the view that they could not make a move on them in Spain. 'They could not make a move against Stephen in Spain. 'So, if the Daniel gang took the view that was too big a move or that the backlash would be too big back then, it would be consistent with them not having the wherewithal to do it now.' The source said Stephen Lyons is the only member remaining out of the youth gang from which he, Michael and Eddie Jnr emerged. 'The rest are either dead or in prison,' he said. Asked if Stephen Lyons has anything to fear from his long-term allies, the Kinahans, the source responded: 'These people have absolutely no qualms about putting a knife between the shoulder blades of their best friends if it suits them. 'There's no loyalty and there's a paranoia that envelopes everything they do. So, it would be premature to assume the Kinahans are on a war footing over this to avenge the Lyons murders when for all we know they could have been responsible for it.' In their statement released on Tuesday, Police Scotland said they were not directly investigating the double murder. Instead they said: 'The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police,' it said. 'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested; however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain. 'There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge. 'Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country. '
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick' is a gripping study of the US fight for gay rights
History American legal scholars usually speak about privacy as an implied right that evolved from the idea of personal liberty. But privacy is not specifically mentioned in the US constitution. Nevertheless, the US Supreme Court first recognised a constitutional right to privacy in the mid-1960s. For the next decade a liberal atmosphere prevailed in the Supreme Court. In Roe v Wade (1973), the court found that since privacy rights included the right to have an abortion, sexual activity was a private matter.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Fascinating to speak to Doctor Who stars for Unleashed special, says host
The episode, which includes interviews with past Doctors and companions, celebrates 20 years since the sci-fi show's revival and explores the programme's impact on Wales, which is where the series was revived by showrunner Russell T Davies in 2005. Taking part is Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, who played Amy Pond and Rory Williams in the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who, as well as Tennant, Ncuti Gatwa and Jodie Whittaker, who have all played the time-travelling alien. Piper, 42, played the ninth and 10th's Doctor's companion, and appears now to have replaced Gatwa in the role of the Doctor. Powell said: 'It's always great seeing some of the iconic faces from the past, right? We talk to some of the most famous companions of recent years, like Billie Piper, Mandip Gill and Karen Gillan, and some Doctors as well – Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant and, of course, Ncuti Gatwa. 'To see them back and talking so passionately about their experience on Doctor Who is fascinating. 'Getting their take on it, because I think you do reflect differently all these years after doing something, is really cool.' He added: 'Fans can expect to hear from the people who made all of the magic happen, straight from the horse's mouth – the executives who brought Doctor Who back, why they did it, the challenges they faced, the directors who helped to make the programme work, and fascinatingly for me as well, the production design team who were there designing what the revival of Doctor Who looked like. 'At the time of the revival, there wasn't that much sci-fi really on the telly compared to now, and so everyone was really breaking new ground.' During the finale of Gatwa's second season, which aired on Saturday, he regenerated and appeared to be replaced with Piper who played Rose Tyler, the Doctor's first companion when the series was rebooted. The finale also saw Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance while Gatwa's Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes. The credit at the end of the programme said: 'Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper.' Piper previously played the physical interface of a sentient doomsday weapon called the Moment during the 50th anniversary special, The Day Of The Doctor. Gatwa played the Time Lord across two series after fellow Scottish actor Tennant bi-generated in 2023. Doctor Who has filmed in locations across Wales since its revival in 2005 and Powell said this will be explored in the new episode of Unleashed. Powell said: 'I think Doctor Who has had a massive impact on Cardiff and Wales. We explore that in the Unleashed special, and people like Russell T Davies (showrunner) and Julie Gardner (executive producer) talk about it in the episode. 'Some of the Welsh people who were given opportunities to work in television, thanks to Doctor Who, have gone on to do brilliant and beautiful things all over the world – and all of that was because Doctor Who came to Cardiff. 'Some of those people are now plying their trade all over the world on some of the most influential programmes out there, and a lot of the tricks of the trade they learned from Doctor Who. 'That infrastructure and industry wouldn't necessarily be what it is today if they hadn't made that decision to bring Doctor Who to Cardiff all those years ago. It's really fascinating to delve into.' The special hour-long episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed will land on Saturday June 7 at 6am on BBC iPlayer, and air on BBC One Wales and BBC Three later that day.
