The UK Supreme Court said that their ruling on biological sex as a distinct category in equality provision should not be interpreted as a defeat for trans people. Trans people have the right to live in dignity, free from harassment and discrimination, they ruled. Most of those who welcomed the judgement also made a point of saying that they support the rights of trans people to … [Read more...] about Trans in fiction – and in court
Transgender
Empathy for women
On 23 November the National published an article by one of their regular columnists, decrying the “lack of empathy” of those questioning the SNP Government’s unfailing support for the strange proposition that men who identify as women (transwomen) are the most victimised group on earth. As JK Rowling was told in no uncertain terms, the only response to the claim that … [Read more...] about Empathy for women
Sex, gender identity and academic freedom
BackgroundOver the last two years an intense debate has broken out about how sex and gender identity should be defined in law and policy, or what it means to be a man or a woman.This has been playing out in the courts, which have recently heard two high-profile cases (Harry Miller v College of Policing and Forstater v Centre for Global Development in which … [Read more...] about Sex, gender identity and academic freedom
Policing the gender identity debate
Over the last two years a fierce debate has erupted about how sex and gender identity should be defined in law and policy, or what it means to be a man or a woman.The main point of tension is between a view of transgender rights as based on a person’s beliefs about their gender identity and women’s rights as based on their biological sex. From a trans rights … [Read more...] about Policing the gender identity debate
Sex, gender and due diligence in public policy
How do public authorities ensure that their policies, practices and services are fair and non-discriminatory?In Scotland, the standard approach is to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment(EQIA) which allows authorities to assess the impact of policies, practices or services against the requirements of the public sector equality duty.[i] For policies, … [Read more...] about Sex, gender and due diligence in public policy