British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Supreme Court's April 16 ruling that the term 'woman' in the context of the Equality Act is based on sex provided 'necessary clarity' and would help shape gender-related policies. This was reported by the “Reuters” agency, BTA reports.
The court ruling follows a case brought by the group For Women Scotland, which ruled that women-only services - such as crisis centres, hospital wards and sporting events - could legitimately exclude trans women. The decision ends a long-standing legal ambiguity over The issue.
“I think for those who are now making guidelines and policies, this is a much clearer position,“ Starmer told British media. “We can move forward from here, and I welcome that.“
The decision was welcomed by organisations and activists who said previous interpretations of the law had threatened the rights of biological women. At the same time, trans rights advocates expressed concern that the new definition could lead to their exclusion from important areas of public life.
However, the High Court stressed that the Equality Act continues to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment, regardless of their biological sex at birth.
The ruling will require a review of policies and practices by public institutions, including in health and social services. Equality Minister Bridget Philipson told the BBC that the Equality and Human Rights Commission would produce further guidance and a binding code of practice to ensure all citizens have access to safe and appropriate services.
Starmer, who has struggled in the past to publicly state his position on gender and gender identity, now said: “The court has made this absolutely clear: a woman is an adult individual of the female biological sex.“