Trans women face ban in public single-sex spaces

Transgender women will be banned from single-sex public spaces under new guidance to be published by the UK's equalities watchdog, reports say. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is set to submit its statutory guidance to ministers this month in response to the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling that trans women are not legally women under the Equality Act.

- ATHENA STAVROU

The new guidance appears to be similar to its interim guidance issued in the wake of the ruling, which has been criticised by trans rights campaigners as discriminatory and has seen legal challenges launched against it.

According to The Times, the guidance will mean trans women will be banned from spaces such as women’s toilets and changing rooms.

It will apply to any organisation that provides a service to the public, including schools, shops, hospitals, prisons, leisure centres and government departments.

Private organisations or charities will also be subject to the guidance if they are providing a public service, and it is also reported that it will say transgender people can be excluded from single-sex sporting competitions.

In a published statement John Kirkpatrick, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the organisation “has not yet” decided on changes to the draft guidance and is still in the process of analysing draft responses. The guidance will be submitted to Bridget Phillipson, the women and equalities minister, who will approve it if she deems it to be in line with the law, before putting it before parliament.

Trans rights campaigners have criticised the EHRC for its handling of the ruling, with legal challenges brought against the watchdog over its interpretation of the law.

Cleo Madeleine, from campaign group Gendered Intelligence, said if the reports are accurate it suggests the EHRC has abandoned its commitment to equality and human rights and “endorses harassment and exclusion of anyone who doesn't fit in”.