In a landmark judgment on 16 April 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of the word “woman” refers strictly to biological sex.
The decision clarifies that the Equality Act 2010 does not include transgender women under the term “woman” for the purpose of sex-based protections.
The case was brought by campaign group For Women Scotland, challenging the Scottish Government’s inclusion of trans women in public board quotas.
The court found that redefining “sex” to include gender identity would conflict with the statutory framework of the Equality Act.
The ruling has drawn mixed reactions from campaigners and officials.
