Misinformation over trans court ruling causing fear of arrest, campaigners warn

Trans rights campaigners have warned that misinformation spreading through the community is fuelling fear and confusion, a month on from the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act.

- ATHENA STAVROU

Support and advocacy groups have said “weaponised misunderstandings” about the practical consequences of the ruling, such as whether trans women can still legally use women’s toilets and other spaces, have caused panic among the community.

They said some trans women have reported feeling nervous about using women’s toilets in public spaces out of fear of being arrested, despite the ruling not having created criminal law.

Jane Fae, director of campaign group TransActual and chair of Trans Media Watch, said: “It’s fair to say trans people are afraid they’ll be arrested if they go in [women’s] spaces, because there are people who are afraid of that. It is creating panic.

“Any person now saying ‘If you go in that space you’ll be arrested’ is talking nonsense. There is no crime. But [trans people] are self-limiting because they are scared.”

Joanne Lockwood, a 60-year-old trans woman, believes there has been a “weaponised misunderstanding” of the ruling by gender critical groups, which has aided misinformation being spread about it.

She said that even though she had been using women’s toilets for many years, the ruling had made her question whether she should continue to do so. She also cancelled her gym membership because she was unsure how her gym would respond.

“Nobody wants to be embarrassed going to the toilet, and nobody wants to be embarrassed going to the gym,” she said. “I ended up cancelling my gym membership because I couldn’t be bothered to have the conversation.

“It affects your mental health, it affects how you perceive your rights. Nobody wants to be seen as a threat or as somebody who is trespassing in someone else’s space.”

Lui Asquith, a solicitor at law firm Russell-Cooke, which represented Amnesty International UK in the proceedings, told