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Supreme Court to announce ruling on definition of a woman | Supreme Court to announce ruling on definition of a woman |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The issue has made its way to the highest court in the UK for a ruling | |
The UK Supreme Court is to deliver its verdict on how a woman should be defined in law. | The UK Supreme Court is to deliver its verdict on how a woman should be defined in law. |
The announcement marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women's group. | The announcement marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle between the Scottish government and a women's group. |
The outcome could have far-reaching implications on how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales. | The outcome could have far-reaching implications on how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales. |
The Scottish government argues transgender people with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) are entitled to sex-based protections, while For Women Scotland argues they only apply to people that are born female. | The Scottish government argues transgender people with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) are entitled to sex-based protections, while For Women Scotland argues they only apply to people that are born female. |
The legal arguments have come at a time of heated debate on gender issues | The legal arguments have come at a time of heated debate on gender issues |
The ruling, to be announced at about 09:45, is expected to set out how the law should treat transgender people. | The ruling, to be announced at about 09:45, is expected to set out how the law should treat transgender people. |
It could affect single-sex spaces and services, as well as equal pay claims, maternity policy and sports events. | It could affect single-sex spaces and services, as well as equal pay claims, maternity policy and sports events. |
The legal arguments have come at a time of heated debate on gender issues. | The legal arguments have come at a time of heated debate on gender issues. |
The Supreme Court is deciding on the proper interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which applies across Britain. | The Supreme Court is deciding on the proper interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which applies across Britain. |
The law provides protection against discrimination on the basis of various characteristics, including "sex" and "gender reassignment". | The law provides protection against discrimination on the basis of various characteristics, including "sex" and "gender reassignment". |
The case against the Scottish government was brought by a women's group | The case against the Scottish government was brought by a women's group |
Judges in London are ruling on what that law means by "sex" - whether it means biological sex, or legal, "certificated" sex as defined by the 2004 Gender Recognition Act. | Judges in London are ruling on what that law means by "sex" - whether it means biological sex, or legal, "certificated" sex as defined by the 2004 Gender Recognition Act. |
The Scottish government says the 2004 legislation is clear that obtaining a GRC amounts to a change of sex "for all purposes". | The Scottish government says the 2004 legislation is clear that obtaining a GRC amounts to a change of sex "for all purposes". |
Government lawyer Ruth Crawford KC told the court that "a person who has become the sex of their acquired gender is entitled to the protections of that sex". | Government lawyer Ruth Crawford KC told the court that "a person who has become the sex of their acquired gender is entitled to the protections of that sex". |
Aidan O'Neill KC, representing For Women Scotland, argues for a "common sense" meaning of the words man and woman, telling the court that sex is an "immutable biological state". | Aidan O'Neill KC, representing For Women Scotland, argues for a "common sense" meaning of the words man and woman, telling the court that sex is an "immutable biological state". |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
The legal dispute began in 2018, when the Scottish Parliament passed a bill designed to ensure gender balance on public sector boards. | The legal dispute began in 2018, when the Scottish Parliament passed a bill designed to ensure gender balance on public sector boards. |
For Women Scotland complained that ministers had included transgender people as part of the quotas in that law. | For Women Scotland complained that ministers had included transgender people as part of the quotas in that law. |
After several cases in the Scottish courts, the issue has been sent to the Supreme Court in London for a final ruling. | After several cases in the Scottish courts, the issue has been sent to the Supreme Court in London for a final ruling. |
For Women Scotland has warned that if the court sides with the government, it would have implications for the running of single-sex spaces and services, such as hospital wards, prisons, refuges and support groups. | For Women Scotland has warned that if the court sides with the government, it would have implications for the running of single-sex spaces and services, such as hospital wards, prisons, refuges and support groups. |
Transgender people have warned the case could erode the protections they have against discrimination in their reassigned gender. | Transgender people have warned the case could erode the protections they have against discrimination in their reassigned gender. |
Amnesty International has said that since the Equality Act protects other minority groups, the case could be the "thin end of the wedge" which could undermine other rights. | Amnesty International has said that since the Equality Act protects other minority groups, the case could be the "thin end of the wedge" which could undermine other rights. |
The Equality and Human Rights Commission - the regulator in charge of enforcing the 2010 act - has called for legal reform as a result of the case. | The Equality and Human Rights Commission - the regulator in charge of enforcing the 2010 act - has called for legal reform as a result of the case. |
The Scottish Parliament passed reforms in 2022 that would have made it easier for someone to change their legally recognised sex. | The Scottish Parliament passed reforms in 2022 that would have made it easier for someone to change their legally recognised sex. |
The move was blocked by the UK government, and has since been dropped by Holyrood ministers. | The move was blocked by the UK government, and has since been dropped by Holyrood ministers. |