Following the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the definition of a woman and sex in the Equality Act, pop star Sam Smith has issued a powerful message on social media.
Sam Smith has issued a powerful message following the Supreme Court ruling the definition of a woman and sex in the Equality Act relates to “a biological woman and biological sex”. The controversial decision has been branded as “erasure” of transgender people by critics.
Five senior judges made the choice to define the terms “women” and “sex” as biological woman and biological sex. It has raised questions over access to single-sex spaces and protections based on sex, especially for trans rights.
Singer Sam, who uses the pronouns they/them and doesn’t identify as a woman, responded to the decision with a powerful message of solidarity. Sam wrote in a social media post, “Trans people exist.
“A world without trans people has never existed and never will. Trans rights are human rights. I am heartbroken for our community. But we cannot and will not be erased. We are real.”
Sam’s words were echoed by Celebrity Big Brother star Kellie Maloney, who said life will become “very dangerous” for trans people. “This ruling has put a lot of fear in a lot of people,” said Kellie.
The campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS), which mandates 50% female representation on public boards, brought the decision after a lengthy legal battle over the definition of a woman in Scottish legislation.
Its effects are anticipated to be felt throughout Northern Ireland, Wales, and England. GRC-certified transgender people are entitled to sex-based protections, according to the Scottish government, while GRC-certified individuals are only limited to those who were born female.
The issue was whether or not a GRC-certified person who recognized their gender as a woman should be treated as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act.
The decision was made by UK Supreme Court Judge Lord Hodge, who defended the law’s protection against discrimination.
He said, “The Equality Act 2010 unanimously recognizes a biological woman and biological sex. However, we advise against viewing this judgment as a victory for one or more social groups over another.
The government responded, saying that the decision provided clarity in areas like sports clubs, hospitals, and refuges. The decision raises the possibility of additional laws regulating access to facilities, including changing rooms. However, judges emphasized that transgender people’s discrimination protections were not being violated.
A Government spokesman said: “We have always supported the protection of single sex spaces based on biological sex. This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs. Single sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”
Harry Potter author JK Rowling was among those praising the verdict and in recent years has been very vocal about trans people and their rights. She said on X: “It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot I’m so proud to know you.”
The writer continued, “Trans people have lost no rights today, although I doubt some (not all) will be angry that the Supreme Court upheld women’s sex-based rights.”
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Source: Mirror
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