'Committed to inclusion' Council leader criticises ruling on trans rights

THE leader of Bristol City Council has criticised the recent Supreme Court judgement on trans rights restricting who can access single-sex services. Green Councillor Tony Dyer said the ruling "falsely pitted women's safety against trans rights".

- Alex SEABROOK Local democracy reporter

In April, five judges at the Supreme Court issued a ruling that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act refer only to a biological woman and to biological sex. The legal definition of a woman in the act does not include transgender women, according to the judgement.

This could lead to restrictions on trans women accessing female-only services. However Cllr Dyer said the council will still support the rights of trans people, despite the ruling. He made the comments in a full council meeting this week.

Cllr Dyer said: "Bristol City Council is committed to providing and promoting inclusive services for everyone in Bristol, including trans and gender-diverse people. Our ambition is to create a fair, safe, accessible and inclusive city where everyone feels they belong and has a voice and an equal opportunity to succeed and thrive.