Latest news with #transInclusion
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Quakers accused of ‘destroying' reputation with trans-inclusive lavatories
Quakers have been accused of 'destroying' their reputation as pioneers on women's rights by refusing to provide separate toilets for females. Quakers in Britain said its toilets would remain 'trans inclusive' despite the ruling by the Supreme Court that the word 'sex' in the Equality Act refers to biological sex and not gender identity. It said it was not desirable to monitor who uses its facilities, adding: 'We cannot guarantee any shared space as exclusive for one group of people.' Quakers have gained a reputation for their progressive attitude towards women, having allowed them to preach as early as the 17th century. But Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, a women's rights group, said they appeared to have abandoned that legacy by adopting 'textbook trans activism'. 'Early Quakers were famously supportive of women's rights – they would surely be shocked and ashamed if they could see the destruction of that proud legacy,' she said. Last month's Supreme Court ruled that transgender women are not legally women, and clarified that the word 'sex' in the Equality Act means biological sex and not gender identity. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) then put out interim guidance to organisations, underlining that in places such as hospitals, shops and restaurants, 'trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities'. A growing number of public bodies have changed their guidance in light of the judgment. The Football Association has said trans women could be banned from women's sport. But other organisations, including the Houses of Parliament, are awaiting final guidance from the EHRC. The statement from Quakers in Britain dismissed the EHRC's interim guidance, which it said 'goes beyond the scope and actual statements' in the Supreme Court ruling. Paul Parker, the recording clerk, said: 'This is already contested and subject to legal challenge.' He said the faith group would 'welcome and affirm trans and non-binary people in Quaker spaces', adding: 'We must respect the dignity of each person to live with integrity, informed by the truth of their lived experience'. Like Stonewall, Mr Parker said the Supreme Court judgement did not have 'the force of law'. 'Whilst the EHRC has recently issued guidance, this is currently only interim guidance. It is non-statutory and therefore does not have the force of law,' the document states. 'We see the Equality Act itself as our primary legal guide when making decisions. 'It is not possible or desirable to monitor who uses our facilities and therefore cannot guarantee any shared space as exclusive for one group of people. We will not label something as a single-sex space if we cannot truthfully guarantee that it will be single-sex.' The minutes of the meeting read: 'The rights and inclusion of people belonging to our communities and using our buildings are not, and should not be, just about toilets. We will continue to work to make our corner of the commonwealth of heaven on Earth a more welcoming and accessible place. This is what love requires of us.' Quakers in Britain also pointed out that at its main building, French House in London, all public facilities were 'trans inclusive'. A spokesman said: 'Toilets labelled with a 'female' sign are intended for cis women, trans women, and non-binary and intersex people for whom this toilet is best aligned with their lived experience. 'Toilets labelled with a 'male' sign are intended for cis men, trans men, and non-binary and intersex people for whom this toilet is best aligned with their lived experience.' Ms Joyce said: 'British Quakers' announcement that it will continue to allow trans-identifying men to use female facilities is textbook trans activism. It is also in breach of the law. The organisation would be wise to consult legal expertise without delay. 'It is not 'inclusive' to seek a way around labelling toilets and changing rooms as male and female in order to avoid having to monitor whether people comply with common-sense rules that are there to protect everyone. It places the desires of those who seek to transgress boundaries over the needs of the most vulnerable. 'This is an upside-down vision of equality, integrity and truth. By defying the UK's highest court and removing protections for women and girls, Quakers are courting legal risk and demonstrating a lack of care and responsibility, in the pursuit of a fashionable dogma.' A spokesman for Quakers in Britain said: 'Our facilities are legally compliant. Quakers in Britain welcome and affirm trans and non-binary people in all Quaker spaces. Our values of equality and integrity guide every decision we make. 'No trans, non-binary, or intersex Quaker, staff member, or service user will be asked to disclose or prove aspects of their identity in ways that are not asked of cisgender people. We do not seek to monitor who uses our facilities, nor do we believe it is possible or desirable to do so. 'We have self-contained facilities, which function as single sex spaces, available for all our building users. We are committed to taking robust and proactive steps to ensure that all our spaces remain safe, inclusive, and free from harassment or inappropriate behaviour.'
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Taxpayers face huge compensation bill for women denied single sex changing rooms
Taxpayers face a massive bill to compensate female public sector workers over the failure to provide single-sex toilets and changing rooms, it was warned yesterday. The NHS and a host of other organisations are at risk of demands for thousands of pounds to settle harassment claims by women who fell foul of unlawful 'trans inclusion' policies. It comes after the Supreme Court stated last month that the legal definition of a woman is based solely on biological sex rather than gender choices in a major victory for feminist campaigners. But there are now warnings that female employees will be able to launch legal challenges – arguing that having to share facilities with trans women amounts to harassment. Last night Scottish Tory equalities spokesman Tess White said: 'The Supreme Court ruling didn't rewrite the law, it simply reinforced what we already knew – biological women have a legal right to access single-sex spaces. 'This isn't hard to understand, it's basic common sense. Instead of upholding the law, John Swinney is still pandering to gender extremists and leaving the door open to more costly lawsuits that the taxpayer will pay for. 'Enough is enough – he must urgently issue a clear public sector directive requiring organisations to uphold the law.' Naomi Cunningham, the barrister representing nurse Sandie Peggie in her employment tribunal case against NHS Fife, told the Mail: 'The Supreme Court ruling will be seismic in its effect and one of the potential consequences is that organisations which have pursued 'trans inclusive' policies could face harassment claims. 'Those public sector bodies such as the NHS – and private companies which have policies allowing trans women to use female toilets and threaten women with disciplinary action if they complain – for example, could be seen to have created policies designed to intimidate their entire female workforce. 'If employers were able to demonstrate that they were changing their policies as a result of the Supreme Court ruling, it may act as a mitigation – but it wouldn't get them off the hook. 'The Supreme Court ruling did not change the law – it revealed the law as it always was, and as it always should have been interpreted. An employee has three months to launch a tribunal claim and could do so on the basis of harassment due to trans inclusion policies which they believe discriminated against them.' There were also concerns last night that some public liability or employer insurance policies could be invalidated. For example, the insurance policy for a football club may no longer cover a female footballer who is injured in a tackle by a trans woman – a biological male. Ms Cunningham said 'as a matter of great urgency', organisations should check their policies to ensure full compliance. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Following publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) interim update [following the Supreme Court ruling], ministers have written to the EHRC to ask them to confirm that they agree that no public body, service provider or other association should issue specific guidance before the EHRC code of practice and guidance is finalised. 'As the EHRC is the enforcer and regulator of the Equality Act, we expect all organisations to consider its revised code of practice and guidance when published to ensure there is a consistent and clear understanding of the correct application of the law for all involved in this complex area.'
