EHRC issues interim guidance on single-sex spaces following Supreme Court ruling

The UK Supreme Court recently ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act refer to biological sex, meaning transgender women can be lawfully excluded from women-only spaces even if they possess a Gender Recognition Certificate. In response, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim guidance stating that in settings such as hospitals, shops, restaurants, and schools, trans women should not be permitted to use women's facilities, and trans men should not use men's facilities, while recommending that alternative provisions be made for transgender individuals. The EHRC emphasized the need to protect transgender people from discrimination, even as the law distinguishes between gender identity and biological sex for the purposes of single-sex spaces. The ruling has led public bodies, such as the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, to announce plans to implement new policies for single-sex facilities in line with the court's decision, though some organizations are still assessing its implications. The guidance and forthcoming updates aim to clarify legal expectations for employers, schools, and public associations. The situation remains more complex in Northern Ireland due to differing equality laws.