Equality Act
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EHRC consults on statutory code of practice
Sex Matters is encouraging people to respond to the EHRC’s consultation on its revised Statutory Code of Practice for service providers (deadline Friday 3rd January). This covers the provision of single-sex services, sports and associations. Our action page explains how to respond. Confusion over these services is longstanding. Since...
20th December 2024
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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 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’ intervention to the Supreme Court
Yesterday we lodged our intervention in the For Women Scotland appeal which is being heard in the UK Supreme Court on 26th to 27th November 2024. At the core of the case is the question of whether the meaning of “sex” (man or woman) in the Equality Act 2010...
23rd October 2024
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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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When child safeguarding meets gender ideology in sport, children are the losers
An organisation meant to protect children has built gender-identity ideology into its policies, putting children at risk. There is an intrinsic conflict between treating people as the opposite sex to what they are in reality, and protecting children and vulnerable adults. Indeed, there is a conflict between this and...
19th September 2024
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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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What about pronouns at school?
Sex Matters has published a model policy for schools to help them communicate clear expectations to staff, pupils and parents and let them respond lawfully and safely to children who are “gender questioning”. We are calling on the Department for Education to provide a similarly clear policy for schools...
6th September 2024
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A model policy that protects all children’s wellbeing
Teachers and pupils in England are going back to school this week, and are still lacking finalised guidance or a model policy from the Department for Education on what to do if children ask to be allowed to “socially transition” and be treated as the opposite sex. Sex Matters...
2nd September 2024
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Stand up for single-sex services – why it’s time to make the Equality Act clear
Women and girls depend on female-only services, spaces, sports and associations for privacy, dignity, fairness and safety. The Equality Act 2010 allows for single-sex provision and protects against sex discrimination and harassment. It is time for the government to step in and make the Equality Act 2010 clear so...
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The new deal for working people and the definition of sex
We expect the government to take action in the first 100 days on its new deal for working people, and that we will see something about this in the King’s Speech on 17th July, when its immediate legislative programme is announced. Before the election the Labour Party said that,...
12th 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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It’s time to make the Equality Act clear
For the past 18 months Sex Matters has been calling for the government to make a simple one-line amendment to clarify that “sex” in the Equality Act really does mean biology, and not self-identification or paperwork. The Conservatives’ announcement today that they would do this if elected is hugely...
3rd June 2024
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Will you ask your MP to support a bill to protect women and children?
This Friday a private member’s bill in the House of Commons presents MPs with a chance to discuss changing the law to clarify the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act, stop the social transitioning of children in schools and ban healthcare providers from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex...
11th March 2024
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Is a GRC really a licence to search?
FairCop has published an advice from a KC on the lawfulness of the National Police Chiefs’ Council policy that tells forces that officers who transition can search (including strip-search) members of the opposite sex. The policy (currently withdrawn for review) states that: “once a transgender colleague has transitioned, they...
1st February 2024
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Gender-critical civil society submits report to GREVIO on sex and the law
Sex Matters, Fair Play For Women and Transgender Trend, together with LGB Alliance, the Women’s Rights Network, For Women Scotland and Merched Cymru, have submitted a report on the UK’s implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention is about violence against women The “Istanbul Convention” is the Council of...
31st December 2023
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Sex and the law at the end of 2023
This blogpost is based on a briefing sent to the Women and Equalities Committee in advance of its session with the Women and Equalities Minister, Kemi Badenoch.
15th December 2023
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Sex and the law in December 2023 – a briefing
Briefing from Sex Matters for a meeting of the Women and Equalities Committee on 13th December 2023
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Section 35 appeal rejected
The Court of Session has rejected the appeal by the Scottish Government against the UK Government’s Section 35 order to prevent the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill becoming law. The Scottish Government’s argument that the Secretary of State for Scotland “acted irrationally by failing to acquaint himself with the...
8th December 2023
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Resisting violations of women-only spaces
The chair of Sex Matters’ board, barrister Naomi Cunningham, was asked to speak at a conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday 5th December to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of Beira’s Place. Beira’s Place, based in Edinburgh but covering the whole Lothian region, is a trauma-informed service for...
7th December 2023
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Kemi Badenoch brings sense to the sex and gender debate
The era of “No Debate” is finally over. And it came to a spectacular close in the most important debating chamber in the country, if not one of the most important in the world.
6th December 2023
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It’s time to act
Following the judgment in the For Women Scotland appeal, it is time for the government to act.
2nd November 2023
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Court rules that GRC changes sex for the Equality Act
For Women Scotland’s appeal against the Haldane judgment that a GRC changes a person’s sex in relation to the Equality Act has been rejected. In the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers CSIH 37 the Court of Session has handed down a judgment that: “a person...
1st November 2023
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Sex Matters at FiLiA
The Sex Matters team had a fantastic time at the FiLiA conference in Glasgow from 13th to 15th October. Over 1,400 delegates from all over the world gathered to talk about women’s rights. Hundreds came to talk to us about the next stage of our campaign to clarify the...
17th October 2023
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Letter to the EHRC about its technical guidance on the Equality Act
Our letter to Kishwer Falkner and Marcial Boo flags the concerns raised in our post.
