Pro-trans groups challenge EHRC guidance on single-sex spaces as rules come into force

Good Law Project’s trans rights lead, Jess O’Thomson, criticised the government’s approach, calling the code of practice “transphobic”.

attitude.co.uk

Nadia on… the new guidance on single-sex spaces

Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome discusses the Government's latest guidance on single sex spaces

leftlion.co.uk

No one should get a free pass on antisemitism – so why does the right?

There is legitimate scrutiny of antisemitism on the left, but at the same time, rightwing media outlets offend with impunity. That makes no sense, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

theguardian.com

We’re supporting a legal challenge against the code of practice | Good Law Project

The government’s transphobic statutory guidance is now up and running – we’re fighting back

goodlaw.social

How the Code of Practice gets the law wrong | Good Law Project

We’re supporting a legal challenge against the government’s transphobic statutory guidance – here’s why

goodlaw.social

MPs back new legal action to stop EHRC trans guidance in force today

The guidance rules that single-sex spaces must be used on the basis of biological sex (Picture: EPA) A legal challenge has been launched against the new guidance on single-sex spaces on the same day it came into effect. The Good Law Project wants to block the new code of practice decided by the equalities regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Andy Burnham’s own Labour MPs are backing the legal challenge, which argues the new guidelines are transphobic and unlawful, Metro can reveal. The new code of practice has confirmed that a service must be used on the basis of biological sex in order for it to be classed as single-sex under the Equality Act. This means single-sex toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards and refuges must be used based on a person’s birth sex, not the gender with which they identify. The Good Law Project claim the guidance is transphobic (Picture: Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) ## Make sense of the mad world of British politics Get analysis of the latest stories – including Andy Burnham's rise to Number 10 – direct to your inbox from Metro’s Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro. Sign up here. The EHRC say they are responding to the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling that the terms ‘woman’, ‘man’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act referred to biological sex at birth. The regulator stresses they are not creating new law, but are providing services such as cafes and leisure centres with impartial, legally accurate guidance on existing law. However the Good Law Project – a non-profit which challenges the government using the legal system – argue that the guidance is unlawful. They are helping an unnamed trans person and trans-inclusive organisation take legal action against the code of practice. The court action against the government has been backed by Andy Burnham’s own backbench MPs. Nadia Whittome MP, who led efforts in Parliament to block the new code in June, told **Metro** : ‘The Code will lead to the segregation and exclusion of trans people, and will subject many others to gender policing based on stereotypes. It is harmful and unworkable. ‘Despite 1 in 4 MPs signing my motion opposing the guidance, it is now coming into force without any vote in Parliament taking place. ‘With the Code representing a profound rollback of rights, I am glad that the Good Law Project is challenging its legality through the courts.’ Nadia Whittome said the EHRC would roll back the rights of trans people (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images) Almost 170 MPs backed her Early Day Motion against the EHRC’s guidance. Labour MP Richard Quigley also told **Metro** he welcomed the legal challenge, which he said ‘has created nothing but confusion and anxiety and appears contradictory when even light scrutiny is applied’. Backbencher Kim Johnson also said: ‘The Good Law Project is right to warn that this guidance is “incredibly dangerous and likely to cause unlawful discrimination”.’ Politicians from other parties have also signalled they want to see the new guidance brought down, including Liberal Democrat MPs Vicki Slade and Tom Gordon. The Green Party’s deputy leader, Rachel Millward, also told **Metro** they wanted the guidance to be withdrawn. She claimed it left ‘trans people facing the very real prospect of being excluded from essential services and public spaces’. ## What has The Good Law Project done? The Good Law Project has written a pre-action letter to the government and EHRC as the first step towards blocking the new guidance. Their challenge focuses on the parts of the code which advise that any service provided for both cis and trans women must also be provided to cis men – or else it is ‘very likely’ to be discriminatory against them. A previous Good Law Project challenge against the EHRC was brought down earlier this year (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) The guidance also tells service providers that any service which is not a single-sex service ‘must be open to all service users’. The Good Law Project argues the EHRC’s reasoning is flawed, saying that trans-inclusive services may be legally justified in some circumstances. The campaigners also claim the Code’s blanket approach excluding trans women from all women’s services is a violation of their human rights. In February this year, the Good Law Project lost a legal challenge against the EHRC’s interim update on transgender inclusion after the Supreme Court Ruling. The judge said the decision to publish the update ‘promptly’ contained ‘no error of law’. The Good Law Project is vowing to continue that challenge, which is focused on toilet and changing provision in the workplace. Their trans rights lead, Jess O’Thomson said: ‘It’s difficult to believe just how far backwards our government has gone on trans human rights. ‘This Labour government pushed through its transphobic guidance in the face of opposition from many MPs, including nearly a hundred of its own backbenchers. ‘It’s not just immensely harmful. We think it’s unlawful, and completely against human rights. So this challenge is absolutely essential.’ The new code of practice has been supported by sex-based rights and gender critical groups (Picture EPA) The EHRC code of practice has been welcomed by sex-based rights groups. They say it offers vital, practical instruction for organisations managing single-sex spaces. Supporters also emphasise that the framework correctly reflects the law following the Supreme Court’s ruling on biological sex. Maya Forstater, of sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, said: ‘The law is clear and the code is practical, giving many examples that apply to everyday services.’ A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: ‘We are unable to comment on any threat of legal action at this stage.’ A Government spokesperson said: ‘We cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings. It would be inappropriate for us to do so.’ ******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.****** **For more stories like this,** check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

metro.co.uk

EHRC 'transphobic' single-sex spaces code to face legal challenge

THE UK equalities watchdog’s “transphobic” code of practice is set to face a legal challenge, it has been announced.

thenational.scot

EHRC 'transphobic' single-sex spaces code to face legal challenge

THE UK equalities watchdog’s “transphobic” code of practice is set to face a legal challenge, it has been announced.

thenational.scot

Kemi Badenoch Says Former Neo-Nazi Standing For Tories Can Be A Councillor But Not An MP

The Conservative leader said she would not want to give Joshua Bonehill-Paine “a national platform”.

huffingtonpost.co.uk