London: The UK Supreme Court is expected to deliver a landmark ruling today that could reshape the legal definition of “woman” and impact sex-based rights and protections across Britain.
At the heart of the case is a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and campaign group For Women Scotland.
The outcome will clarify whether the term “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex or includes legal gender, as recognized under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
The ruling could have major implications for single-sex spaces, maternity policy, equal pay, and access to sports and services across Scotland, England, and Wales.
The Scottish government argues that individuals who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) should be considered legally of their acquired gender in all legal contexts.
Government lawyer Ruth Crawford KC told the court that a person who has transitioned and obtained a GRC “is entitled to the protections of that sex.”
However, For Women Scotland insists that the legal term “woman” should refer only to biological females.
The dispute originated in 2018 after the Scottish Parliament passed a bill aimed at improving gender balance on public boards. The inclusion of transgender women in those quotas was challenged, eventually reaching the UK’s highest court.
For Women Scotland warns that a ruling in favor of the government could undermine single-sex services such as women’s hospital wards, domestic abuse refuges, and female-only prison units.
Transgender advocates, however, say any rollback could strip trans people of essential legal protections.
Amnesty International described the case as a potential “thin end of the wedge,” warning that a narrow reading of sex could threaten broader equality rights.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has called for legal reform to address the growing tensions between sex and gender identity in law.
