One year ago today, on April 16, the UK Supreme Court made a significant ruling regarding the terms “woman” and “man” in the Equality Act. This decision came after ‘gender critical’ volunteer organization For Women Scotland challenged the Scottish Government’s use of the term ‘woman’.
The judgment delivered by Lord Hodge, Lady Rose, and Lady Simler, along with the agreement of other Justices, unanimously stated that the term ‘woman’ in the Equality Act 2010 is based solely on biological sex.
Following the ruling, concerns were raised by trans activists and charities about potential adverse effects on the trans community. A recent report, titled the 2025 Trans Segregation in Practice, highlights testimonies from individuals, both cisgender and transgender, who have felt excluded from society in the aftermath of the ruling.
The report reveals that approximately 53% of trans respondents and 17% of cisgender respondents have experienced being stopped, questioned, or harassed when entering gendered spaces in the UK throughout their adult lives.
Reflecting on the ruling’s impact on the trans community, Helen Belcher, director at TransActual, emphasized how it has disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of trans individuals, leaving them uncertain about participating in public life, including using public facilities like toilets and changing rooms.
The establishment of the Not In Our Name (NION) collective post-ruling aimed to counter the narrative portraying this as a victory for cisgender women. NION stands against the scapegoating of trans individuals in the name of cisgender women and rejects narratives that pit trans rights against women’s rights without addressing the root causes of gender-based oppression and violence.
The NION open letter, which denounces discrimination and exclusion of trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals in the name of cisgendered women, has garnered nearly 100,000 signatures and received support from influential figures such as Carla Denyer MP, Kate Nash, Beverley Knight, Denise Welch, Kate Osborne MP, David Tennant, and Zack Polanski.
Women who share this sentiment and wish to support the trans+ community are encouraged to add their signatures to the Not In Our Name letter by visiting the provided link.
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