Understanding the Supreme Courts Definition of Sex for UK Equality Law

Impact by Design: The Trans Inclusion Podcast

• 5 min

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Welcome to "Trans Toolkit," where we cut through the UK’s most complicated legal thickets. In this episode, hosts Alex and Jo unpack the huge 2025 Supreme Court ruling that clarified how ‘sex’ is defined in the Equality Act 2010—and why it matters so much for trans rights. You’ll hear clear, practical guidance about the rules of the road after the Supreme Court decided that ‘sex’ means ‘biological sex’ in discrimination law, creating important differences from the Gender Recognition Act. Alex and Jo break down key definitions, explain how legal protections for trans people remain—just structured differently—and explore how these changes impact single-sex spaces, workplaces, and everyday life. They’ll also discuss the vital "proportionality test" organizations must meet to justify any exclusions, and the critical need for evidence-based policy, not knee-jerk reactions. If you’re looking for answers in the new legal landscape for trans inclusion, privacy, and dignity in the UK, this episode gives you the essential toolkit you need.