GB News viewer shares joy as Supreme Court ‘tells us what we already knew’ in legal definition of woman
A GB News viewer has expressed feeling “very emotional” following today’s landmark Supreme Court ruling that transgender women are not legally women under the Equality Act.
The viewer’s sentiment was shared on air by presenter Michelle Dewberry, who read out the message during a discussion about the court’s decision.
The ruling, delivered earlier today, has determined that the terms “woman” and “sex” in equality legislation refer specifically to biological characteristics rather than gender identity.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act are defined by biology, not gender identity.
Commenting on the viewers message, Michelle said: “Well, I would say it’s also a reflection on the absolute cowardice, the absurdity and the embarrassment of our political class, and not just the political class.
“By the way it isn’t just the institutions in this country it is much of the media.
“If I see one more time an actual male criminal that is pictured in a newspaper for being, a paedophile, a rapist or whatever, and the headline says a woman has been charged with x, y, z and you scream at the telly, that is not a woman.”
Helen Joyce is Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters added: “Nobody intended the Gender Recognition Act to destroy the protections that were there in the Sex Discrimination Act. And yet they did. And now that has been fixed.”
Five Supreme Court judges declared in an 88-page ruling that “the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman.”
The judgment clarified that transgender people continue to be protected from discrimination, but that “gender reassignment and sex are separate bases for discrimination and inequality.”
This decision may significantly impact trans women’s access to certain services and spaces.
The case originated in Scotland when the Campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) challenged guidance issued by the Scottish government over a 2018 law designed to increase the proportion of women on public sector boards.
Previously, Scottish ministers’ guidance stated that a trans woman with a full Gender Recognition Certificate was legally a woman.
The Supreme Court revealed the outcome today
PA
The Scottish Government had argued before the Supreme Court that a person holding a GRC is “recognised in law” as having changed sex.
Jane Fae, director of TransActual, expressed devastation over the ruling, saying, “The entire trans community is devastated. Irrespective of the small print on this ruling, the intent seems clear: to exclude trans people wholesale from participating in UK society.”
She added: “This morning, we are feeling very alone.”
TransLucent, another transgender rights group, stated: “Many in the trans community will be extremely worried by this decision and its implications.”
The group reassured trans people that they “are still protected from discrimination, victimisation and harassment because of their protected characteristic of gender reassignment.”
