Legal system
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The For Women Scotland case at the Supreme Court
A one-page summary of what the case is about, why it matters, and what the possible outcomes are. Download a low-resolution version to share on WhatsApp.
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For Women Scotland in the Supreme Court
What was the case about? For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers was heard by the Supreme Court on 26th and 27th November 2024. It concerned the effect of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 on the definition of “woman” and “man” for the purposes of the Equality Act...
3rd December 2024
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Gender recognition and the Equality Act 2010
A briefing analysing the debate on the interaction between the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010, by Joanna Dawson and Joe Tyler-Todd for the House of Commons Library
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Sex matters at the Supreme Court!
An important legal case will be heard in the UK Supreme Court this week (on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th November) about the meaning of woman (and man) in the Equality Act. This is the third round in an ongoing legal fight by the campaign group For Women Scotland...
25th November 2024
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Sex Matters threatens British Transport Police with legal action
At the end of last week Sex Matters sent a pre-action letter to the British Transport Police (BTP) challenging its new Transgender Search policy. The pre-action letter (which also names the National Police Chiefs’ Council as an interested party) is the first step towards taking the BTP to court...
24th November 2024
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Sex Matters at the Battle of Ideas
The three Sex Matters directors, Fiona McAnena, Maya Forstater and Helen Joyce, all spoke at the Battle of Ideas on Saturday 19th October. This is what they said. Fiona McAnena: “Gender Wars: no end in sight?” I’m going to talk about three things: The first female driver of a...
25th October 2024
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Written intervention to the Supreme Court on the definition of sex
Sex Matters, represented by Ben Cooper KC and David Welsh, is intervening in the appeal in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers, which will be heard by the Supreme Court on 26th and 27th November 2024. We argue that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 should...
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Briefing on our intervention to the Supreme Court on the definition of sex
This six-page briefing looks at our key arguments why “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 should be construed as referring to biological sex. Sex Matters, represented by Ben Cooper KC and David Welsh, is intervening in the appeal in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers, which...
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Sex Matters responds to EHRC strategy
Sex Matters has responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s 2025–2028 strategic plan. In 2021 we called on the EHRC to step up and address the issue of sex and gender. We told it about women who stand up against gender ideology being bullied at work and in...
4th October 2024
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Why is Sex Matters intervening in the case of Kristie Higgs?
Sex Matters, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Church of England Archbishops’ Council, the Free Speech Union and the Association of Christian Teachers are all separately intervening in a belief-discrimination case, Higgs v Farmor’s School, being heard at the Court of Appeal this week. The appeal concerns the...
1st October 2024
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Don’t Get Caught Out – a summary of gender critical belief discrimination employment tribunal judgments
by Ruth Birchall and Jo Phoenix
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Anneliese Dodds must listen to women
Anneliese Dodds, the Minister for Women and Equalities, has said in response to a written question asking whether the government plans to amend the legal definition of what a woman is: “We are proud of the Equality Act and the rights and protections it affords women. The Government does...
9th September 2024
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Council admits discriminating against social worker over her gender-critical views
Cambridgeshire county council has paid social work manager Lizzy Pitts £54,000 in compensation after admitting discriminating against her for her gender-critical views.
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Equal Treatment Bench Book – July 2024 edition
This edition represents the first major revision for three years.
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The five tests that must be passed before any new law banning “conversion practices”
The government has announced in the King’s speech that a “draft bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices”. In the briefing notes accompanying the King’s speech the government says: “There is genuine cross party and cross society consensus to see these practices banned”. Of course there is...
17th July 2024
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EHRC issues guidance on discriminatory adverts
As the EHRC says, an advert is a notice or announcement – written or oral – promoting a job opportunity, product, service or event. Adverts might appear in newspapers or magazines, on the television or radio, in shop windows or emails or on a website. They can also appear...
16th July 2024
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Sex matters and the new government
The UK has a new prime minister and we now know there will be a new Labour government, with a significant majority in the House of Commons. The Labour Party has pledged to provide greater support for victims of violence against women and greater protection for women’s rights at...
5th July 2024
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New poll finds voters want to make the Equality Act clear
As reported in the Telegraph, Daily Mail, Express and Sun today, voters across the political spectrum are more supportive of making the Equality Act clear than making it easier for people to change their birth certificates. Sex Matters commissioned a representative survey from an independent polling company to find...
1st July 2024
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Briefing on new poll on sex and gender
The law on sex and gender: what policies do the public want? Results of Sex Matters poll.
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Applying for a gender-recognition certificate: the facts
Is the process “intrusive, outdated and humiliating”? This briefing examines the evidence.
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Another fall in public support for changing sex on birth certificates
The latest results from the annual British Social Attitudes survey show a further fall in support for the law that allows people to change the sex recorded on their birth certificate. It seems that the more this is talked about, the less people like it. Each year the British...
12th June 2024
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Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport – introduction to legal considerations
Guidance by Harper Macleod LLP for the UK Home Nations Sports Councils on the considerations underpinning their Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport, published in September 2021.
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This damning judgment should be a wake-up call for the women’s sector
Adams v Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre This week, an employment tribunal ruled that caseworker Roz Adams was subjected to unlawful discrimination and constructive dismissal by Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC). The tribunal agreed with Adams’ description of what she had suffered as a “heresy hunt” at the hands of...
22nd May 2024
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The government wants examples of bad guidance on single-sex services
Send in the evidence! The government has issued a call for the public to input evidence of bad policies and guidance on single-sex services. UPDATE: Read Sex Matters’ guidance on how to submit evidence The Equality Act allows for clear single-sex services – including everyday facilities like toilets, showers ...
2nd May 2024
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Legal opinion says promotion policy discriminates on basis of gender-critical beliefs
Earlier this year Sex Matters was approached by Dr John Armstrong, a reader in mathematics at King’s College London (KCL). Dr Armstrong was applying for promotion, but was concerned that the “EDI” (equality, diversity and inclusion) section of the application, which required applicants to demonstrate their commitment to ideas...
20th April 2024
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Counsel’s opinion in the matter of King’s College London academic promotions criteria
KCL’s promotion policy discriminates on the basis of gender-critical beliefs, and will also be likely to contravene the new law on academic freedom due to come into force in August 2024.
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Digital verification services
– how the government can solve the problem about sex (or else sleepwalk into chaos)
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A Woman’s Guide to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
A brief guide to what the Act says, and other relevant legal references, explaining when you are entitled to free legal advice, and ways to find it.
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“Misgendering” and the Scottish Hate Crime Act
On 1st April, the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into force. The law has generated headlines across the world, mainly due to concerns about its potential impact on freedom of speech; in particular, gender-critical speech. One of the most controversial aspects is the extension of so-called...
5th April 2024
