Sex in the Supreme Court

Listen to the Supreme Court, not the Good Law Project

The Scottish Government has offered to meet us

We have received a letter from the Scottish Government’s Director of People, Dr Nicola Richards, offering a meeting. Richards says the Scottish Government accepts the Supreme Court ruling and has put its Trans and Non Binary Equality and Inclusion policy under “active review”. This...

The Scottish Government has been put on notice

The Scottish Government must be made to follow the law

Sex Matters has sent a letter before action to the Scottish Government, putting it on notice that we will take legal action if it continues to delay changing its policies to reflect the Supreme Court judgment when it comes to separate-sex facilities such as...

A template for clear guidance

The single-sex and separate-sex service exceptions in the Equality Act should be straightforward and easy to apply. But they have become entangled in misunderstanding and conflict, complicated by the desire of people who identify as transgender to use opposite-sex services, and by accusations of...

It’s time for a product recall

When businesses become aware that a product they have distributed poses a risk to users, they issue urgent and clear “Product Recall” notices as soon as they can. They then carefully assess how their quality controls systems failed, to try to avoid making costly...

Poll shows public support for the Supreme Court decision

On 16th April the UK Supreme Court issued a ruling about the definition of a woman and sex in UK equality law, in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers. Three weeks later Sex Matters commissioned a national YouGov poll to find...

Sex matters: putting the Supreme Court ruling into practice

The UK Supreme Court has clarified that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex. This ruling came as a surprise to the UK Government, the Scottish and Welsh Governments, and every regulator, trade union and umbrella organisation that has got the law...

For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers

before Lord Reed, President Lord Hodge, Deputy President Lord Lloyd-Jones Lady Rose Lady Simler

Publication

Template HR email on policy changes

If you work in HR, or know someone who does, copy and paste to share this model email, which...

23rd May 2025
Action

Email your MP about the Supreme Court judgment

Make your voice heard – let your MP know why the Supreme Court ruling is important to you.

23rd May 2025
Action

Send our briefing to organisations you know

Share our summary of the Supreme Court judgment and practical advice for organisations to think about when reviewing their...

22nd April 2025
Update

Sex matters: putting the Supreme Court ruling into practice

The UK Supreme Court has clarified that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex. This ruling came...

21st April 2025

Updates

Update

Virgin Active brings its changing rooms policy in line with the law after threat of legal action

Virgin Active has changed its changing-room policy to ensure that biological men (including those who identify as “transgender women”)...

15th August 2025
Update

EHRC consultation: justification

This is the fourth in a series of posts focusing in detail on individual parts of the Equality and...

29th July 2025
Update

EHRC consultation: sport

This is the third in a series of posts focusing in detail on individual parts of the Equality and...

29th July 2025
Update

The next EHRC chair must uphold the law

Sex Matters has written to two Parliamentary committees, the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Women and Equalities...

23rd July 2025

In the media

“The Supreme Court gender ruling had given us clarity. Now this Labour law will torpedo that”

Women’s rights campaigners warn that a Government bill could endanger vulnerable women by blurring the lines between sex and...

7th May 2025
Maya Forstater on BBC Scotland

Maya Forstater speaks to Kaye Adams on BBC Scotland about the practicalities of the Supreme Court’s ruling. 10:24 on...

24th April 2025
Helen Joyce on BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Helen Joyce talks to Rick Edwards about the Supreme Court judgment. 5:11 on YouTube.

22nd April 2025
Helen Joyce and Michael Foran on Spectator TV

Author Helen Joyce and lecturer in public law Michael Foran join Lucy Dunn to discuss today’s Supreme Court ruling,...

16th April 2025

Resources

Publication

Providing single-sex services with confidence

A guide for service providers – how to be confident in understanding and using the Equality Act to respect...

10th October 2025
Publication

Ben Cooper KC’s analysis of FWS Supreme Court judgment – briefing for Parliamentarians

Five key points in a summary of the analysis by the lawyer who represented Sex Matters in our intervention...

17th July 2025
Publication

Template email to raise concerns about changing rooms and toilets

This template email is designed to help you clearly and confidently raise concerns about policies for changing-room, toilets and...

11th July 2025
Publication

Template email about proposed unisex changing rooms or toilets

This template email is designed to help you clearly and confidently raise concerns about policies to make changing-room or...

11th July 2025

Take action now

Updates

In the media

Resources

Stay informed. Stay involved.