UK Supreme Court affirms biological sex in equality laws

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the Supreme Court's recent ruling that defines the protected characteristic of 'sex' in the Equality Act as biological sex, providing what he described as 'much-needed clarity' for the development of gender policies and guidance. The court ruled that single-sex spaces, such as refuges and hospital wards, can lawfully exclude trans women, requiring public bodies to review their policies accordingly. Starmer affirmed his position by stating that 'a woman is an adult female' and emphasized the judgment's role in clarifying an area previously marked by legal ambiguity. While the decision was applauded by advocates for biological women's rights, trans rights campaigners warned that it could have harmful and exclusionary effects on trans people. The Supreme Court maintained that trans individuals remain protected under anti-discrimination laws, though practical implications are expected to unfold over time. Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson also welcomed the ruling, asserting that businesses and services can now operate with greater legal certainty.