Latest news with #JohnKirkpatrick
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trans women to be banned from single-sex spaces under new EHRC guidance
Transgender women will be banned from single-sex public spaces under new guidance to be published by the UK's equalities watchdog, reports say. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is set to submit its statutory guidance to ministers this month in response to the UK Supreme Court's unanimous ruling that trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act. The new guidance appears to be similar to its interim guidance issued in the wake of the ruling, which has been criticised by trans rights campaigners as discriminatory and has seen legal challenges launched against it. According to The Times, the guidance will mean trans women will be banned from spaces such as women's toilets and changing rooms. It will apply to any organisation that provides a service to the public, including schools, shops, hospitals, prisons, leisure centres and government departments. Private organisations or charities will also be subject to the guidance if they are providing a public service, and it is also reported that it will say transgender people can be excluded from single-sex sporting competitions. In a published statement John Kirkpatrick, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the organisation 'has not yet' decided on changes to the draft guidance and is still in the process of analysing draft responses. The guidance will be submitted to Bridget Phillipson, the women and equalities minister, who will approve it if she deems it to be in line with the law, before putting it before parliament. Trans rights campaigners have criticised the EHRC for its handling of the ruling, with legal challenges brought against the watchdog over its interpretation of the law. Cleo Madeleine, from campaign group Gendered Intelligence, said if the reports are accurate it suggests the EHRC has abandoned its commitment to equality and human rights and 'endorses harassment and exclusion of anyone who doesn't fit in'. 'The proposal seems to be that anyone can be shut out from toilets and changing rooms at any time unless they carry their birth certificate,' she said. 'We've had many reports of trans people being excluded over the past few months, but also reports from cisgender women who have been thrown out of services and spaces because they were tall or had short hair. Ultimately, this hurts everyone. 'But fortunately, it's also unenforceable. There is no toilet police and it is not a crime to use the services and spaces appropriate to your gender.' She added: 'We appeal now to the minister for equalities to remember the reason for her office, and to uphold the rights and protections of transgender people with compassion and calm.' A Stonewall spokesperson said that while trans people are and will remain protected from discrimination and harassment under the law, the draft guidance 'takes the position of justifying exclusion rather than inclusion of trans people as its starting point'. 'It risks creating a hierarchy of rights and a tiering of safety concerns, which are counter to the intentions behind the Equality Act 2010,' the spokesperson said. 'The EHRC has received over 50,000 responses to its consultation from businesses, organisations and individuals raising wide ranging and complicated issues including compatibility of the draft guidance with other existing pieces of legislation which will need to be addressed.' The Good Law Project is one group that has launched legal action against the EHRC, arguing the guidance 'goes far beyond' what the For Women Scotland judgment requires. It argues: 'It amounts to a bathroom ban for trans people, violating people's right to privacy in their everyday lives.' Following reports detailing the watchdog's updated guidance, the Good Law Project executive director, Jo Maugham, said: "The EHRC's guidance is subject to legal challenge – a hearing is scheduled for later this year – and a court will decide whether it is compatible with the Equality Act. 'Given the evident hostility of the guidance to the rights and dignities of trans people we are confident the commission will lose." Campaigners have also criticised the EHRC's consultation process, questioning how 50,000 responses could have been analysed so quickly. The Good Law Project also wrote to the EHRC, accusing them of 'ignoring' transgender people's views as it used artificial intelligence to categorise the replies. A spokesperson for the EHRC told The Independent: 'We are using a combination of approaches to analyse the responses received to our consultation. With more than 50,000 responses received, we have commissioned an external supplier to support us in analysing them. Our approach will involve supervised use of AI alongside our expert legal assessment to ensure a balance of robustness, accuracy and speed, including promoting consistency and helping to avoid bias in managing this scale of responses." The Times reported the guidance, which is still being finalised, will not say services must provide single-sex spaces, but that if they do, they must only be used by biological women. It will also reportedly allow services to request birth certificates and make inquiries about a person's birth sex, but this could be discriminatory if not handled in a sensitive way. The guidance will also say services need to consider if there is an alternative for trans people to use, and that, in cases such as toilets, it would not be proportionate to leave a trans person with no facilities. An EHRC spokesperson said: 'The code of practice has not yet been finalised. We received an extremely high volume of responses to the consultation and are grateful to everyone who shared their feedback. 'To ensure we give these responses the consideration they merit, we are working at pace to analyse them and are amending the draft code of practice text where necessary to make it as clear and helpful as possible. 'But our code will remain consistent with the law as set out by the Supreme Court.'
The Guardian
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
UK equalities watchdog: Transgender people may be asked about gender status in workplace
Transgender people may be asked about their gender status in the workplace, the equalities watchdog has said, with its chair arguing people should 'distinguish between rights in law, and a preference for things to be a certain way'. Giving evidence to the women and equalities select committee, the chair and chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said trans people should not be fearful of the repercussions of April's supreme court ruling, which found the word 'woman' in the Equality Act refers only to a biological woman. However, when asked about a series of scenarios in which the ruling might practically affect trans people's lives, both said formal guidance was currently being drawn up. The EHRC's interim advice, published shortly after the court decision, set out that transgender people should not be allowed to use toilets of the gender they live as, and that in some cases they also cannot use toilets of their birth sex. Asked what she would say to trans people who felt they had lost rights, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, the EHRC chair, replied: 'We protect their rights under the law as they exist, and we also have done so and will continue to do so. But I think you have to distinguish between rights in law, and a preference for things to be a certain way.' Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat MP, pushed Falkner and the EHRC's chief executive, John Kirkpatrick, on how trans people's privacy could be protected in workplaces and socially 'if they are going to be identified because they cannot use certain facilities'. Kirkpatrick said the watchdog hoped to provide 'some appropriate guidance about how, respectfully, questions can be asked in the workplace or in services, and so on and so forth, in such a way as to respect privacy and dignity as far as is possible'. Asked if this would not still imperil people's privacy, Falkner said that rights under article 8 of the Human Rights Act, connected to privacy, would not apply in such a case. Quizzed about how the changed rules about toilet use could be implemented, Falkner said it would primarily be about the 'social contract', adding: 'We are not talking about people with badges coming along to enforce anything.' In another exchange, Falkner, who has been criticised by transgender groups for leading an organisation they argue is insufficiently protective of their rights, said almost all the abuse in the debate came from transgender people and their backers. 'One of the thing that one notices is that the vast majority of that part of our population, which is particularly the women and girls part … the vast majority of those people who felt disadvantaged or felt the law was not supporting them did so in a dignified, respectful manner, frequently using the last resort of a tribunal or a court,' she said. 'Let's be clear. This supreme court ruling only covers 8,464 people, the holders of GRCs [gender recognition certificates]. So in terms of changing things at all, those are the people affected. But the level of agitation that they can cause in terms of personal attacks, libellous attacks, defamation, where our family members are affected, our intimate family members have to think about how they are going about their place of work and so on, has got to stop.'
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Urenco USA Joins Texas Nuclear Alliance as Founding Member
Austin, TX May 28, 2025 --( )-- The Texas Nuclear Alliance (TNA) proudly welcomes Urenco USA (UUSA), the United States' only large scale commercial uranium enrichment facility, as a Founding Member. 'UUSA is helping the U.S. maintain its position as a global leader in nuclear development by providing homegrown enriched uranium for nuclear power generation,' said TNA President Reed Clay. 'With its energy expertise, infrastructure, and growing demand for reliable power, Texas is poised to lead the nation in nuclear energy, and TNA is proud to partner with UUSA to advance nuclear solutions together.' 'Texas is well positioned to help drive the nuclear resurgence in the United States,' said John Kirkpatrick, Urenco USA's managing director. 'With our plant located right on the Texas-New Mexico border, we are excited to support TNA's efforts to expand the state's nuclear industry and to potentially fuel new Texas nuclear plants with a domestic source of enriched uranium in the future.' About Urenco USA As the only commercial-scale uranium enrichment facility in North America, Urenco USA plays an essential role in the nuclear fuel supply chain, which ends with the generation of reliable, secure, and sustainable energy for U.S. consumers. Our focus is on providing safe, cost-effective and reliable uranium enrichment services for power generation while working within a framework of high regulatory and safety standards. Our world-class facility is located in the southeastern corner of New Mexico and plays a vital role in supporting U.S. energy production, energy security, jobs, and manufacturing. The facility is a leading example of commercial investment in U.S. manufacturing and innovation, which began over two decades ago and is continuing today. To learn more, visit About the Texas Nuclear Alliance TNA is the only industry association in Texas dedicated to the advancement of nuclear technology in the state. TNA was formed with a singular mission: to make Texas the Nuclear Capital of the World. Formed in 2022 in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, TNA is based on the fundamental premise that if Texas and the world want low-carbon, reliable energy, it can no longer turn its back on nuclear energy. Nuclear is clean, safe, reliable, and secure. Contact Information: Texas Nuclear Alliance Lauren Clay 512-567-7604 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Urenco USA Joins Texas Nuclear Alliance as Founding Member Press Release Distributed by
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Urenco USA Starts Up First Phase of New U.S. Enrichment Capacity
EUNICE, N.M., May 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Urenco USA has initiated production of enriched uranium in its newest gas centrifuge cascade, marking the next phase of expansion at its enrichment facility in New Mexico. This cascade is the first of several planned to come online by early 2027. Once completed, this expansion will provide an approximately 15 percent increase in domestic enrichment capacity. "Our experienced team of employees at Urenco USA continues to deliver on our plans for expanding America's uranium enrichment capacity to support our utility customers with a long-term and reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium," said John Kirkpatrick, managing director of Urenco USA. Urenco USA is America's only commercial producer of enriched uranium and has been enriching uranium in the United States since 2010. Urenco USA operates the National Enrichment Facility, a key U.S. strategic asset, and an essential part of America's national energy infrastructure and the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain. The facility represents a commercial investment to date of more than $5 billion in U.S. manufacturing. Urenco USA currently has the capacity to meet approximately one-third of the enrichment needs of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. The company is evaluating potential additional expansion subject to market demand and underpinned by contracts. Urenco USA is uniquely positioned to support U.S. utilities in meeting growing domestic energy needs and in strengthening U.S. energy security. Urenco USA's new supply will strengthen the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain and will support a transition away from reliance on Russian supply. About Urenco USA As the only commercial scale uranium enrichment facility in North America, Urenco USA plays an essential role in the nuclear fuel supply chain, which ends with the generation of reliable, secure, and sustainable energy for U.S. consumers. Our focus is on providing safe, cost-effective and reliable uranium enrichment services for power generation while working within a framework of high regulatory and safety standards. Our world-class facility is located in the southeastern corner of New Mexico and plays a vital role in supporting U.S. energy production, energy security, jobs, and manufacturing. The facility is a leading example of commercial investment in U.S. manufacturing and innovation, which began over two decades ago and is continuing today. To learn more, visit View source version on Contacts Jeremy DerryberryDirector of Communications, Urenco 505-975-3844
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Urenco USA Starts Up First Phase of New U.S. Enrichment Capacity
EUNICE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Urenco USA has initiated production of enriched uranium in its newest gas centrifuge cascade, marking the next phase of expansion at its enrichment facility in New Mexico. This cascade is the first of several planned to come online by early 2027. Once completed, this expansion will provide an approximately 15 percent increase in domestic enrichment capacity. 'Our experienced team of employees at Urenco USA continues to deliver on our plans for expanding America's uranium enrichment capacity to support our utility customers with a long-term and reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium,' said John Kirkpatrick, managing director of Urenco USA. Urenco USA is America's only commercial producer of enriched uranium and has been enriching uranium in the United States since 2010. Urenco USA operates the National Enrichment Facility, a key U.S. strategic asset, and an essential part of America's national energy infrastructure and the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain. The facility represents a commercial investment to date of more than $5 billion in U.S. manufacturing. Urenco USA currently has the capacity to meet approximately one-third of the enrichment needs of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. The company is evaluating potential additional expansion subject to market demand and underpinned by contracts. Urenco USA is uniquely positioned to support U.S. utilities in meeting growing domestic energy needs and in strengthening U.S. energy security. Urenco USA's new supply will strengthen the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain and will support a transition away from reliance on Russian supply. About Urenco USA As the only commercial scale uranium enrichment facility in North America, Urenco USA plays an essential role in the nuclear fuel supply chain, which ends with the generation of reliable, secure, and sustainable energy for U.S. consumers. Our focus is on providing safe, cost-effective and reliable uranium enrichment services for power generation while working within a framework of high regulatory and safety standards. Our world-class facility is located in the southeastern corner of New Mexico and plays a vital role in supporting U.S. energy production, energy security, jobs, and manufacturing. The facility is a leading example of commercial investment in U.S. manufacturing and innovation, which began over two decades ago and is continuing today. To learn more, visit
