The UK Supreme Court has decided that only biological women fall under the definition of 'women' as specified in the Equality Act, prompting protests in central London.
On the 19th (local time), the Associated Press and others reported that thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals gathered in front of the Lee & Ko, waving placards and flags with slogans such as 'Transgender women are women' and 'Do not take away our rights' in opposition to the Supreme Court's decision.
Earlier, on the 16th, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' under the Equality Act refer to biological women and sexes.
The court stated, 'The definition of sex in the Equality Act of 2010 clearly indicates that gender is binary, confirming that a person is either female or Namsung.'
This has been interpreted as a refusal by the government and judiciary to recognize the gender identity of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people, raising concerns about potential human rights violations.
Additionally, there are worries that this decision may become a catalyst for further decisions or policies that go against the trend of expanding protections for LGBTQ+ rights.
According to The Guardian, the protests that day were organized by 24 LGBTQ+ and human rights groups across the country, drawing thousands of attendees.
Sophie Gibs, a transgender woman participating in the protest, told the Associated Press, 'This is a horrific era when rights are being seized,' adding, 'I am very disappointed that such a dangerous and harmful decision has been made.'