Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
The Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖis firmly committed to equality and inclusion and protecting the dignity and human rights of all people in Wales.
On 16 April 2025, the Supreme Court gave its ruling on the meaning of sex in the application of the Equality Act 2010.
The Court clarified that the meaning of woman within the Equality Act 2010 is based on Parliament’s reference to biological sex in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
The court was clear that it was ruling only on the definition of man, woman and sex as they are used in the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.
We will take the time to consider the judgment and the interim update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission carefully and take the steps required to meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 as clarified by the ruling.
According to the ruling the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 relating to the protected characteristic of sex can only be interpreted as referring to biological sex. The ruling will also impact on the provision of single-sex spaces as set out in the Act.
Lord Hodge giving the judgment, counselled “against reading this judgment as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another—it is not.â€
We should be clear that this interpretation of the Equality Act 2010 does not remove protection from trans people, with or without a Gender Recognition Certificate.
Respecting the rights of trans people is key to ensuring this protection.
The judgment makes it clear that trans people continue to be protected from discrimination and harassment based on the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.
Discrimination and harassment against all people with one or more protected characteristics are neither legal, nor in any way acceptable.
We acknowledge the fear and uncertainty trans people across Wales are experiencing and assure you that Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖwill value respect, compassion and kindness in all interactions with trans people and communities.