#equality-act-2010

#equality-act-2010

Last April, the supreme court issued a ruling confirming that the word sex in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, not a person's legal gender. This has a wide-reaching impact on how equality law is applied in practice, particularly in providing sex-based rights such as single-sex spaces. Six months later, a draft code on the ruling's implementation was sent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to the equalities minister, Bridget Phillipson.

A Muslim charity run that stopped women and girls over 12 from taking part is reviewing its policies after a backlash. Organised by the East London Mosque and the London Muslim Centre, it was only open to men, boys of all ages and girls under 12. While single-sex charity runs can be legally permissible, she said organisers could have taken practical steps such as different starting times or separate groups to accommodate women and girls without compromising religious beliefs.

In an open letter, TransActual and Trans+ Solidarity Alliance urged the public to signal their opposition to the trans-exclusionary provisions after the EHRC handed its amended code of practice to equalities minister Bridget Phillipson in September. The EHRC updated its code, which provides guidance on creating gendered facilities such as toilets or changing rooms, following a Supreme Court ruling that found that trans women are excluded from the legal definition of a "woman" for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.

Just a few days later, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) - which oversees the enforcement of equality law - published interim guidance that recommended service providers bar trans men and women from single-sex services and facilities that align with their gender and adding in "some circumstances" transgender people could also be barred from spaces based on "biological sex".

Sex Matters has filed its claim in response to the Corporation, which owns and manages the Heath, erecting signs at Kenwood Ladies' Pond stating it is open to biological women and trans women with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment under the Equality Act 2010. Sex Matters had already threatened the Corporation with legal action if it did not drop its self-ID policy for Kenwood Ladies' Pond in June, before the signs were installed.

As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting.

The ruling has been interpreted to mean that trans women can be excluded from women-only spaces like toilets and changing rooms.

The fragility of rights that scares many within the community, where the unanimous ruling has sent shock waves and ignited fears reminiscent of past violence against transgender individuals.

The British Transport Police will start strip-searching trans women by male officers, following a supreme court ruling on the Equality Act 2010.