Transgender women in the UK will no longer be allowed to access female-only bathrooms and participate in women’s sports following a major legal ruling, according to the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
The UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that under the Equality Act 2010, the term “woman” refers strictly to biological sex, effectively excluding transgender women from this legal category in certain contexts.
This decision was welcomed by gender-critical groups and met with alarm by trans rights advocates. EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner called the ruling “hugely significant” and affirmed that the commission would ensure institutions align their policies accordingly. She emphasized that single-sex facilities, including bathrooms and changing rooms, must be based on biological sex and clarified that organizations may still offer unisex or third-space options. The EHRC plans to update its statutory code of practice by summer to reflect the court’s decision and will continue to monitor and enforce compliance with the law.
Baroness Falkner also stated that the NHS must revise its 2019 guidance on hospital ward accommodations for transgender individuals.
