Several prominent trade unions and the National Union of Students (NUS) have declared strong opposition to new guidance on single-sex spaces in the United Kingdom, vowing to challenge regulations that prioritize birth sex over gender identity. The guidance, which came into effect earlier this month, mandates that single-sex toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards, and refuges be designated based on a person's sex assigned at birth.
This directive follows a Supreme Court ruling last April that legally defined 'woman' in terms of biological sex. Unison, representing 1.3 million members, has criticized the rules as "unacceptable" and "unworkable." Andrea Egan, Unison's general secretary, stated that many employers have rescinded their trans equality policies in response to the new guidance and pledged to "take the fight to every workplace to make them trans inclusive."
The NUS, which represents seven million students, is urging activists to "resist" the guidance by displaying trans rights posters in restrooms and advocating for inclusive campus policies. Avery Greatorex, the NUS vice-president for liberation and equality, described the guidance as ideologically motivated by the "gender-critical movement" rather than unbiased legal advice.
Other unions publicly opposing the new rules include GMB, the British Medical Association, the University and College Union, Equity (representing performing arts professionals), and PCS (representing civil servants). The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has stated it will monitor compliance and take enforcement action where necessary.
In response to the unions' stance, Fiona McAnena of the sex-based rights group Sex Matters argued that the unions are prioritizing the feelings of trans-identifying individuals over the rights of women to safety and dignity. She added that many unions have failed their female members, including those who have faced workplace difficulties for asserting the biological definition of sex.
Bridget Phillipson, the minister for women and equalities, affirmed that the Equality Act continues to offer "clear protections" for trans people. She emphasized the importance of appropriate single-sex spaces, such as women's refuges and rape crisis centers, for individuals who have experienced male violence, ensuring they can receive support in a safe environment. Phillipson also stated that trans individuals should not face prejudice, intimidation, or harassment due to their identity.