Latest news with #singleSexSpaces
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Practising witch has spell of trouble as she is 'thrown off druid training course after member accused her of being transphobic'
A practising with has been left horrified after she claims she was thrown off a druid training course after being accused of transphobia when she spoke up about single-sex spaces. Angela Howard, a second-generation witch whose mother was a high-priestess who ran a coven in the 1980s, turned to the religion hoping to find 'spiritual healing' in 2020 from the faith - even training to become a bard, a division focusing on storytelling, poetry and performance. So she was horrified when she was banned from areas of the faith after speaking up about her experiences when a pagan group said trans women being women 'is not up for debate'. The furious post, made after the Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women, cited their 'unequivocal' support for trans people and belief that 'trans women are women, trans men are men and all non-binary genders are valid'. In a post titled 'Statement of Support for Trans People from the Pagan Federation' they said that their values were 'rooted in respect for the divine', adding that 'the gods and spirits we work with' tell them that identity is part of their spiritual path. And devoted druids were left horrified as the hard-line group banned or blocked anyone who raised an objection. In a comment, they said: 'We are banning people who are being hateful and/or bigoted (4 so far).' She told The Times she raised the issue - citing her own experiences - that there were times when women needed separate facilities, such as changing rooms, women's refuges and prisons. The furious post, made after the Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women, cited their 'unequivocal' support for trans people and belief that 'trans women are women, trans men are men and all non-binary genders are valid' In a comment still visible beneath the group's post, a member said Ms Howard and another woman were 'bigoted TERFs that need banning'. Responding, The Pagan Federation said: 'They have been banned.' Shortly after sharing the statement, the group confirmed that they had banned four members 'so far' for making comments they deemed to be 'intolerance, bigotry or hatred' and that they were 'acting as fast as we can'. Ms Howard was also banned from the British Druid Order's private Facebook group after criticising an article where the Supreme Court decision was proclaimed to be a 'victory for bigotry'. She claimed that following the incident she had been banned from her online account with the British Druid Order, where she was accessing course materials so she could carry out her bardic training. In a written complaint to the BDO, she said, as reported by The Times: 'It is profoundly ironic that within modern paganism and druidry (movements that should be committed to liberation, healing and truth) we are witnessing a kind of spiritual witch-hunt against those who speak up for the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls.' The unanimous Supreme Court ruling last month found that 'woman' and 'man' refer to biological women and men and that 'the concept of sex is binary'. Following the ruling the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued new guidance stating unequivocally that in workplaces and places open to the public 'trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities'. Under the Pagan Federation's post, commenters vented their fury at the drastic policies. Shortly after sharing the statement, the group confirmed that they had banned four members 'so far' for making comments they deemed to be 'intolerance, bigotry or hatred' and that they were 'acting as fast as we can' In a comment still visible beneath the group's post, a member said Ms Howard and another woman were 'bigoted TERFs that need banning'. Responding, The Pagan Federation said: 'They have been banned' She claimed that following the incident she had been banned from her online account with the British Druid Order, where she was accessing course materials so she could carry out her bardic training One said: 'I am sorry to hear this attitude of 'this is not up for debate' regarding one of the most delicate and contentious issues our society faces right now.' They added: 'PF has made it clear in the comments that it expects members who don't toe its line to leave. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have decided I will not renew my membership this year. 'I cannot in good conscience remain a member of an organisation that will not tolerate different views on political issues which have little to do with Paganism.' Responding, another called the statement 'threatening', saying 'I don't think paganism has anything to do with sex or self identifying'. They said: 'For shame PF you are hurting a section of your members. Of course trans people have rights, of course gays have rights, of course individuals have rights to live as they wish as long as it harms none but that includes women too, the abused, the fearful, the lost and scared. 'You are now causing division in the PF where there was none by your threatening statement.' But others were delighted with the group's stance, praising them as they continued to ban members. One said: 'You're doing a solid job. Every time I finish writing a reply to some of these anti-trans types and click post, you've already removed the post I'm replying to. It's a very pleasant kind of frustration. Keep on beating me to it.' The Pagan Federation, responding to The Times, said that they have a robust complaints procedure to ensure fairness and accountability across the Pagan Federation's activities. They have a policy of not commenting on complaints 'to ensure the fairness of the process and to protect all parties involved'.
Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Trans row nurse demands union clarifies position on single-sex spaces
A female nurse suing the NHS after being forced to share a changing room with a biologically male doctor has demanded that the nurses' union makes clear whether it supports single-sex spaces. A letter sent by Sandie Peggie's solicitor to Norman Provan, the associate director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland, calls for industrial intervention from the union on single-sex spaces. It said Peggie was 'surprised but nevertheless delighted' that on March 27, the RCN wrote to the director of workforce at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust telling them they were breaking the law by failing to provide single-sex changing rooms for staff, according to reports. The English trust is facing similar litigation to NHS Fife regarding nurses sharing a changing
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Nurse demands clarity from union over single-sex spaces
A nurse who was suspended by NHS Fife after she objected to a transgender doctor using a women's changing room has demanded clarity from her union about whether it raised concerns over single-sex spaces with the health Peggie's solicitor has written to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland to request its intervention in a "workplace industrial matter".It follows media reports that the RCN previously wrote to a health trust in England to inform bosses they were breaking the law by failing to provide single-sex changing rooms for RCN has been contacted for comment. Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said that the union had told County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust that it had to abide by workplace regulations around single-sex letter, seen by BBC Scotland News, said Ms Peggie - who was not given industrial support when her case was raised with NHS Fife last year - was "surprised but nevertheless delighted" by the move south of the border. Ms Peggie was suspended from her work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in January last year after she complained about having to share changing facilities with Dr Beth Upton, who is transgender, made an allegation of bullying and incidents alleged by Dr Upton happened before the UK supreme court unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities Peggie was signed off with stress in February this year, the same month the tribunal the nurse had been the subject of a year-long disciplinary investigation and will face a disciplinary hearing to answer allegations of gross misconduct next month. The letter said that, before returning to work, Ms Peggie "needs assurances that no male colleagues, irrespective of their gender identity, will be permitted to use female-only workplace changing rooms". Ms Gribbon said that she was awaiting a response on this from NHS lawyer made it clear that her client expected the union to "exercise its industrial muscle to challenge the decision which was adversely impacting her and other female union members".She also wrote that she first spoke to the union about the issue of single-sex spaces in February last she added: "To Sandie's knowledge and disappointment, the union has made no attempt to resolve this matter industrially with the board." Union questioned The letter said the English branch of the RCN told the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to abide by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and "provide single-sex changing rooms without delay".Ms Gribbon said it appeared the union had been prompted by ongoing litigation against the trust by a group of nurses in solicitor concluded by asking if the union had written to NHS Fife in the same terms that it wrote to the trust in the Darlington nurses' added: "If not, does the union intend to do so in future?"She added that Ms Peggie was not asking the union to intervene in her ongoing employment Royal College of Nursing, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Fife have been contacted for week NHS Fife failed in its bid to bar the public from viewing future hearings in an employment tribunal about a transgender doctor using a female changing health board sought a court order to restrict an online stream of the case brought by Ms Peggie when it resumes in July.
Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Whitehall refuses to enforce single-sex spaces despite ruling
Whitehall is refusing to implement single-sex spaces in government departments until Britain's equality regulator intervenes, despite the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of the word 'woman' as it is used in the Equality Act. The Times understands that departments have been told to keep existing policies in effect while reviews are undertaken, even though they may conflict with the ruling, which said single-sex spaces must be based on biological sex. Meanwhile, members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the largest civil service union, are calling for 'possible industrial, legal and human rights challenges' to guidance that had the effect of 'segregating our trans and non-binary members in the workplace'. • Equality watchdog warns critics of Supreme Court ruling on women The Equality
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Devon council is acting lawfully on single-sex spaces
A council has clarified its position over single-sex spaces in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment which ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities councillor Jane Taylor said Teignbridge District Council had continued to "deny women single-sex spaces" and asked for a full review of the council's equality and diversity policy to clarify exactly what was meant by a single-sex council hired a barrister to produce a 26-page report to advise it on what it should do report said the authority was acting lawfully in line with the judgment and there was no need for a review of council policy. Taylor, a retired police chief inspector, put forward a motion in October 2024 which said: "This council cannot continue to ignore and sideline the centrality of sex as a key factor of discrimination and deny women single-sex spaces where they are necessary, proportionate and legitimate to the objectives of upholding their safety and dignity."She called on Teignbridge to "agree a definition of single-sex spaces, for males and females, owned or managed by Teignbridge District Council and any appropriate service provision".At the meeting on Monday, she said: "Does this council still believe it is unlawful to exclude men who self-identify as women or who possess a gender recognition certificate to enter advertised single-sex female spaces."A transgender woman is a person born male who lives as a Woodhead, head of legal services at the council, said: "The Supreme Court made it quite clear what the position is and we will not deviate from what that position is."The Equality and Human Rights Commission issued guidance following the Supreme Court ruling which said in 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".Speaking after the meeting, Taylor said she was "elated" that women could now use single-sex spaces in Teignbridge District Council properties, such as changing rooms, in full knowledge that only other biological women would use that space. 'Immediately apparent tension' In the report prepared by Jonathan Ward of Magdalen Chambers in Exeter, he said the issue related specifically to single-sex spaces at the Broadmeadow Leisure Centre in said this was "a divisive issue" and that there was "tension between the protections for the protected characteristic of sex, and the protected characteristic of gender reassignment".In his report, he said there was "an immediately apparent tension" in cases where "a woman complains that she feels unsafe for example in sharing a changing room with a transgender woman" but "that a transgender woman feels unsafe if required to share a changing room with other men".During the meeting, Ward said "village" facilities where there were individual cubicles with locks appeared to be "a sensible answer".He said it was "difficult to see the process for enforcing single-sex spaces" and that questioning of individuals could amount to "victimisation and harassment".The BBC has asked Teignbridge District Council what the cost was of the barrister's report but has not received an answer. Following the meeting, council Liberal Democrat member Andrew Swain said he was pleased with the said: "We looked at it in detail. We've taken legal advice, and the conclusions there pretty much agree with my feeling that what Teignbridge is doing is really good."Teignbridge has been redesigning the leisure centres - they're moving towards individual lockable cubicles and, for me, this is a better way of said some people had "tried to make this into a battle".He said: "I don't think it's a battle - it's about creating leisure centres and public facilities which are inclusive."
