Supreme Court ruling restricts trans women from sports, bathrooms

Recent legal and legislative developments in the UK and Indiana have clarified and reinforced policies restricting transgender women from participating in female sports and accessing single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and changing rooms. In the UK, a Supreme Court ruling established that the definition of 'woman' in equality law is based on biological sex, enabling the exclusion of transgender women from female spaces if deemed proportionate, with calls for organizations to update their policies accordingly. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has signaled forthcoming updates to official guidance and statutory codes to reflect these changes, emphasizing that single-sex services must be based on biological sex while allowing for the possibility of unisex or third spaces. In Indiana, Governor Mike Braun signed a law banning transgender women from collegiate women's sports, echoing previous state and federal measures and reflecting a broader trend toward restricting transgender participation in female sports amid shifting public opinion. Proponents argue these policies ensure fairness in women's sports, while critics contend they further marginalize transgender individuals. The tightening of these rules illustrates ongoing debates over gender identity, legal definitions, and inclusion in both the US and the UK.