UK Supreme Court Equality Act Ruling
23 Apr 2025
Last week, the UK Supreme Court ruled that, within the Equality Act 2010, the terms “woman” and “sex” refer to biological sex.
Importantly, the Court also confirmed that this interpretation does not remove existing protections for trans people, who remain fully protected from discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment under the Act.
We are now waiting for statutory guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) which will be released this summer to assist public institutions in interpreting and implementing the ruling.
As a University, we want to reassure our community that we remain committed to equity and inclusion where every person is valued, respected, and supported. We believe everyone deserves to work and study in a safe environment free from discrimination, bullying, or harassment and provide Report + Support if anyone wishes to raise concerns or access support.
We recognise that these legal discussions about identity are unsettling and can have a profound personal impact, and we want to remind staff and students of the wellbeing resources and support networks available to them during this time.
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