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| Scottish government back in court over definition of 'woman' | Scottish government back in court over definition of 'woman' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The case is being heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh | The case is being heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh |
| A campaign group has taken the Scottish government back to court over its definition of "woman" in legislation promoting gender balance on boards. | A campaign group has taken the Scottish government back to court over its definition of "woman" in legislation promoting gender balance on boards. |
| A judge ruled in February that ministers should not have "conflated" women and trans people in the bill, as they have separate protections in law. | A judge ruled in February that ministers should not have "conflated" women and trans people in the bill, as they have separate protections in law. |
| But the For Women Scotland group is not happy with how the government revised the bill following the ruling. | But the For Women Scotland group is not happy with how the government revised the bill following the ruling. |
| Lady Haldane will preside over two days of arguments at the Court of Session. | Lady Haldane will preside over two days of arguments at the Court of Session. |
| The case centres on the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act, which was passed by MSPs in 2018. | The case centres on the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act, which was passed by MSPs in 2018. |
| The legislation, which aims to ensure gender balance on public boards, originally stated that it included people who were living as a woman and who either had gone through or intended to go through the gender recognition process. | The legislation, which aims to ensure gender balance on public boards, originally stated that it included people who were living as a woman and who either had gone through or intended to go through the gender recognition process. |
| For Women Scotland contended that ministers had broken with the separate definitions of women and trans women laid out in the 2010 Equality Act - and had thus acted beyond their powers. | For Women Scotland contended that ministers had broken with the separate definitions of women and trans women laid out in the 2010 Equality Act - and had thus acted beyond their powers. |
| Protected characteristics | Protected characteristics |
| The group lost an initial judicial review in 2021, but were successful on appeal. | The group lost an initial judicial review in 2021, but were successful on appeal. |
| Lady Dorrian ruled that by incorporating trans people who were living as women into the definition of woman, the bill "conflates and confuses two separate and distinct protected characteristics". | Lady Dorrian ruled that by incorporating trans people who were living as women into the definition of woman, the bill "conflates and confuses two separate and distinct protected characteristics". |
| Because the bill singled out trans people living as women, the judge said it sought to apply to "only some of those with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment". | Because the bill singled out trans people living as women, the judge said it sought to apply to "only some of those with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment". |
| Her judgement also stressed that the case was about "interpreting the law in relation to the legislative competence of the Scottish parliament", and not transgender rights - "a separate policy issue entirely". | Her judgement also stressed that the case was about "interpreting the law in relation to the legislative competence of the Scottish parliament", and not transgender rights - "a separate policy issue entirely". |
| Campaigners have held rallies outside the Scottish Parliament | |
| The Scottish government responded by revising the guidance that accompanies the legislation, to stress that it covers women as defined by the Equality Act - but also trans people as defined by the Gender Recognition Act. | The Scottish government responded by revising the guidance that accompanies the legislation, to stress that it covers women as defined by the Equality Act - but also trans people as defined by the Gender Recognition Act. |
| The guidance reads: "Where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is female, the person's sex is that of a woman. And where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is male, the person's sex becomes that of a man." | The guidance reads: "Where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is female, the person's sex is that of a woman. And where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is male, the person's sex becomes that of a man." |
| For Women Scotland said this still did not comply with the court's ruling, and that by making reference to sex the government was "still confusing the protected characteristics and are trying to redefine 'woman' yet again". | For Women Scotland said this still did not comply with the court's ruling, and that by making reference to sex the government was "still confusing the protected characteristics and are trying to redefine 'woman' yet again". |
| The group applied for a fresh judicial review, and arguments will be heard at the Court of Session on Wednesday and Thursday. | The group applied for a fresh judicial review, and arguments will be heard at the Court of Session on Wednesday and Thursday. |
| The proceedings are taking place at the same time as MSPs are considering separate legislation which would make it easier for trans people to obtain a gender recognition certificate. | The proceedings are taking place at the same time as MSPs are considering separate legislation which would make it easier for trans people to obtain a gender recognition certificate. |
| Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison told MSPs there would be "no change to the protections under the Equality Act", adding: "Helping one group to better access their rights does not mean diluting or diminishing the rights of another group." | Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison told MSPs there would be "no change to the protections under the Equality Act", adding: "Helping one group to better access their rights does not mean diluting or diminishing the rights of another group." |
| Asked about the judicial review, the minister said she was "not going to comment on a live court case". | Asked about the judicial review, the minister said she was "not going to comment on a live court case". |