Front page headlines in the United Kingdom appeared divided after the country’s supreme court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” refer to a “biological woman and biological sex” under British equality laws.
The judgement on Wednesday centred on whether a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate – a formal document giving legal recognition of someone’s new gender – is protected from discrimination as a woman under Britain’s Equality Act. Supporters of transgender rights have expressed concern over the decision but it has been welcomed by the government as bringing “clarity”.
The case could impact the access of transgender women to services and spaces reserved for women. It is also a defeat for the Scottish government. The case stemmed from a 2018 law passed by the Scottish Parliament saying 50 percent of the membership of the boards of Scottish public bodies should be women. Transgender women with gender recognition certificates were to be included in meeting the quota.
The issue has seen politicians divided in other countries. In the US, president Donald Trump has signed orders to define the sexes as only male and female. He has tried to kick transgender service members out of the military, block federal spending on gender-affirming care for those under 19, and block their sports participation nationally. There have been several concerns about India’s transgender rights law.
What front pages said in UK
Most front pages carried pictures of members of For Women Scotland, which brought the case, celebrating outside court. For Women Scotland, which is backed financially by JK Rowling, had argued that the Scottish officials’ redefinition of the term woman went beyond parliament’s powers. The celebrations came while trans rights campaigners urged trans people and their supporters to remain calm about the decision.
Daily Mail’s headline said, “Historic victory for women…and common sense”.
“Trans women are not women,” said the right-leaning Daily Telegraph, drawing on the order.
While the front page of the Financial Times said, “Rights battle activists hail gender ruling”, the headline on Guardian’s front page said that “Legal definition of woman is ‘based on biological sex’”.
The Independent, which refers to itself as a liberal newspaper, said, “Huge blow for trans rights as court says: You are not women”. The front page headline in The Times said, “Equality policies in chaos as court defines a woman”.
The front page of the Belfast Telegraph, published in Northern Ireland’s Belfast, said, “Court ruling on gender could affect NI decisions”. Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, has different laws on equality, the report noted.
A few American newspapers also featured the news on their front pages.
The Wall Street Journal carried a picture of activists celebrating outside the London court with the headline: “UK top court says trans women aren’t women”.
“UK court defines woman by birth,” read the front page headline in the Washington Post, which also carried a picture of celebrations outside the court.
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