Latest news with #Equality]Act
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trans women should not be allowed to use women's toilets, says human rights watchdog
Trans women should not be allowed to use women's toilets, the UK's equalities watchdog has declared. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued interim guidance after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the legal definition of a woman was tied to biological sex. It comes as the Government considers plans submitted by the watchdog last week for a wider overhaul of equality laws aimed at protecting women-only spaces. In an update published on Friday night, the EHRC told employers, pubs, shops and hospitals that they must all act in line with the Supreme Court judgment. 'If somebody identifies as trans, they do not change sex for the purposes of the [Equality] Act, even if they have a Gender Recognition Certificate,' the guidance said. 'A trans woman is a biological man. A trans man is a biological woman.' The EHRC added: 'In workplaces and services that are open to the public, trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men's facilities, as this will mean that they are no longer single-sex facilities and must be open to all users of the opposite sex. 'In some circumstances the law also allows trans women (biological men) not to be permitted to use the men's facilities, and trans men (biological woman) not to be permitted to use the women's facilities.' The watchdog said mixed-sex toilets or changing rooms should be provided 'where possible' in addition to single-sex toilets. Guidance on when competitive sports must be single-sex will be set out separately by the EHRC 'in due course'. Maya Forstater, the executive director of the women's rights campaign group Sex Matters, told The Telegraph: 'This guidance is super simple and clear and confirms what the Supreme Court says. 'The Supreme Court's judgment was a model of clarity, and the new EHRC guidance is practical, simple and workable. 'Some trans people will be disappointed, but other people have rights. There is no excuse for any employer or service provider not to follow this guidance right now.' Last week, the Bristol Old Vic indicated it would defy the Supreme Court by continuing to allow theatregoers to use whichever toilet they prefer. The theatre said: 'In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definitions of sex and gender, we want to reassure our trans and non-binary visitors, staff and artists that you are welcome here. 'We continue to welcome everyone to use the facilities that are most appropriate for them and we continue to offer a range of choices because we understand people enter into this conversation from different starting points and life experiences.' The Bristol Old Vic went on to insist it would 'only ever intervene if people are behaving inappropriately'. Girlguiding, Britain's biggest organisation for young girls, issued a statement saying it was 'proud to be a trans-inclusive organisation' and that it would await further guidance. In its interim statement, the EHRC also warned that only offering mixed-sex toilets could amount to indirect sex discrimination against women. Schools have been told single-sex toilets must be provided for boys and girls aged eight and over, and single-sex changing facilities for boys and girls aged 11 and over. Biologically male pupils who identify as trans girls are not permitted to use girls' toilets or changing rooms under the guidance, just as biologically female pupils who identify as trans boys are not permitted to use boys' toilets or changing rooms. The EHRC further clarified that members of an association with 25 members or more can be limited to men or women only, and can also be limited to gay men or lesbian women. The guidance said a lesbian-only association should not admit trans women, and associations for gay men should not admit trans men. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
26-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Trans women should not be allowed to use women's toilets, says human rights watchdog
Trans women should not be allowed to use women's toilets, the UK's equalities watchdog has declared. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued interim guidance after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the legal definition of a woman was tied to biological sex. It comes as the Government considers plans submitted by the watchdog last week for a wider overhaul of equality laws aimed at protecting women-only spaces. In an update published on Friday night, the EHRC told employers, pubs, shops and hospitals that they must all act in line with the Supreme Court judgment. 'If somebody identifies as trans, they do not change sex for the purposes of the [Equality] Act, even if they have a Gender Recognition Certificate,' the guidance said. 'A trans woman is a biological man. A trans man is a biological woman.' The EHRC added: 'In workplaces and services that are open to the public, trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men's facilities, as this will mean that they are no longer single-sex facilities and must be open to all users of the opposite sex. 'In some circumstances the law also allows trans women (biological men) not to be permitted to use the men's facilities, and trans men (biological woman) not to be permitted to use the women's facilities.' The watchdog said mixed-sex toilets or changing rooms should be provided 'where possible' in addition to single-sex toilets. Guidance on when competitive sports must be single-sex will be set out separately by the EHRC 'in due course'. Maya Forstater, the executive director of the women's rights campaign group Sex Matters, told The Telegraph: 'This guidance is super simple and clear and confirms what the Supreme Court says. 'The Supreme Court's judgment was a model of clarity, and the new EHRC guidance is practical, simple and workable. 'Some trans people will be disappointed, but other people have rights. There is no excuse for any employer or service provider not to follow this guidance right now.' Last week, the Bristol Old Vic indicated it would defy the Supreme Court by continuing to allow theatregoers to use whichever toilet they prefer. The theatre said: 'In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definitions of sex and gender, we want to reassure our trans and non-binary visitors, staff and artists that you are welcome here. 'We continue to welcome everyone to use the facilities that are most appropriate for them and we continue to offer a range of choices because we understand people enter into this conversation from different starting points and life experiences.' The Bristol Old Vic went on to insist it would 'only ever intervene if people are behaving inappropriately'. Girlguiding, Britain's biggest organisation for young girls, issued a statement saying it was 'proud to be a trans-inclusive organisation' and that it would await further guidance. In its interim statement, the EHRC also warned that only offering mixed-sex toilets could amount to indirect sex discrimination against women. Schools have been told single-sex toilets must be provided for boys and girls aged eight and over, and single-sex changing facilities for boys and girls aged 11 and over. Biologically male pupils who identify as trans girls are not permitted to use girls' toilets or changing rooms under the guidance, just as biologically female pupils who identify as trans boys are not permitted to use boys' toilets or changing rooms. The EHRC further clarified that members of an association with 25 members or more can be limited to men or women only, and can also be limited to gay men or lesbian women. The guidance said a lesbian-only association should not admit trans women, and associations for gay men should not admit trans men.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK prime minister backtracks on 'trans women are women' claim after court rules they legally aren't
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared that his country's Supreme Court ruling that only biological women are women is a "welcome step forward." In the historic decision, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom unanimously ruled last Wednesday that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. As a result, biological males who identify as women can be excluded from some single-sex spaces and groups under the country's Equality Act. Starmer, who leads the left-wing Labour Party, spoke with ITV News in his first public comments about the court's decision. When asked whether he believes a trans woman is a woman, he replied, "Look, I think the Supreme Court has answered that question." When pressed further, the prime minister praised the ruling for providing "real clarity." Jk Rowling Fires Back At Liberal Comedian After He Doubles Down On Trans Athlete Stance "A woman is an adult female, and the court has made that absolutely clear. I actually welcome the judgment because I think it gives real clarity, it allows those that are going to draw up guidance to be really clear about what that guidance should say," he said. Read On The Fox News App "So I think it's important that we see the judgment for what it is. It's a welcome step forward. It's real clarity in an area where we did need clarity. I'm pleased it's come about. We need to move and make sure that we now ensure that all guidance is in the right place, according to that judgment." After being asked for his message to the trans community who are upset by the ruling, Starmer said, "I think it is important that we have clarity about the law. That's what the Supreme Court is there for. So, obviously, that's an important and welcome step, and we go forward from there." This is a stark departure from his past comments on the issue. After previously dodging the question of whether a woman can have a penis, Starmer told the London-based news outlet The Times in 2023, "99.9 per cent of women … haven't got a penis." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture "A woman is a female adult, and in addition to that, trans women are women, and that is not just my view — that is actually the law. It has been the law through the combined effects of the 2004 [Gender Recognition] Act and the 2010 [Equality] Act. So that's my view. It also happens to be the law in the United Kingdom," he told The Times in 2022. "The Labour leader called for reforms of the Gender Recognition Act, under which people diagnosed with gender dysphoria who have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years can apply to be legally recognized," The Times article article source: UK prime minister backtracks on 'trans women are women' claim after court rules they legally aren't
