Skip to main content
The Morning Star Shop
Supreme court: ‘Woman’ in equality law refers to biological women
Susan smith (left) and Marion Calder, co-directors of For Women Scotland, with campaigners celebrate outside the Supreme Court in London, April 16, 2025

THE term “woman” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex and those with a gender recognition certificate can be refused entry to same-sex spaces if proportionate, according to Britain’s highest court.

The landmark 88-page Supreme Court judgment was prompted by the then SNP-Green Scottish government’s 2022 Gender Recognition Act, passed with the stated intention of relaxing the process to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC), the key to changing legally assigned gender.

That was struck down by the British government, which argued it would impact the operation of the 2010 Equality Act.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Protesters during a pro-Palestine rally in Edinburgh organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Picture date: Saturday March 9, 2024
Palestine Solidarity / 24 August 2025
24 August 2025
HOTEL WORKERS VICTORY
Scotland / 24 August 2025
24 August 2025
Members of Unite union take part in a demonstration to prote
Workers' Rights / 24 August 2025
24 August 2025
Similar stories

Pupils in a classroom
Education / 18 April 2025
18 April 2025

Government urged to consider further measures

The UK Supreme Court in Parliament Square, central London
Britain / 26 November 2024
26 November 2024