Latest news with #EqualityAct2010
Scotsman
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Holyrood body admits causing 'upset' amid calls to U-turn on its trans toilet policy
This comes as pressure grows for the Scottish Government to update its official guidance on single-sex spaces. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Holyrood body admits people will be 'upset' and 'anxious' about its ban on trans women using the parliament's female toilets. Last month the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) ruled that single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms must be interpreted by biological sex only, meaning trans people would not be allowed to use the facilities of their acquired gender. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex. The Scottish Parliament. Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has now called for the SPCB to rescind this decision. He said: 'In previous discussions in this chamber and in a letter to me, the SPCB says it remains committed to an inclusive environment and its intention is that everyone should feel welcome and included in Holyrood. 'But this demonstrates the opposite - this makes trans people feel significantly less welcome at parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The decision is described as one that brings confidence and dignity to everyone, but it will exclude and segregate trans people in the heart of Scotland's democracy.' He added the toilet ban is already having a 'negative impact' on trans and gender non-conforming members of staff. Mr Harvie added: 'Surely it is time for the SPCB to think again and rescind this unclear, unfair position?' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jackson Carlaw MSP, who was speaking on behalf of the SPCB, said the body cannot debate the rights and wrongs of the Supreme Court judgement. He said: 'It is our job to ensure we are implementing the law as communicated to us. 'Let me acknowledge on behalf of the body that for some this has proved upsetting and has caused anxiety.' Mr Carlaw added: 'It is our responsibility as a service provider and employer to recognise the judgement had immediate legal effect. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We took urgent steps to review this for facilities in Holyrood in line with the Equality and Human Rights Commission statement on the Equality Act 2010 and our need to comply with it.' Jackson Carlaw MSP. Pam Gosal MSP warned the parliament would have risked using taxpayers' cash to foot expensive legal bills if it had not made this decision. She said: 'Let's be clear, we are talking about the UK Supreme Court. 'The law is the law, and nobody is above it.' The Scottish Government has come under increasing pressure to update its guidance to public bodies on single-sex spaces following the court judgement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier this week the campaign group Sex Matters sent a legal letter to Scottish ministers threatening to take them back to court if it does not update its guidance. The government says it is waiting for official guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission before updating its guidance. Earlier this week Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth also said she was not concerned about schools having to make their own decisions on single-sex spaces.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
JK Rowling's barrister friend sues vet clinic after being banned
Retired criminal defence barrister Allison Bailey is suing a veterinary practice for £25,000, alleging she was banned due to her gender-critical beliefs. Bailey, a friend of author JK Rowling,has filed a discrimination claim against Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd after she was deregistered from its Palmerston Veterinary Group in Walthamstow in January 2023. Bailey asserts the ban violated her rights under the Equality Act 2010, which protects belief-based characteristics, and claims the decision was influenced by a former employee's disapproval of her views. However, the practice contends she was removed due to repeated instances of rude and aggressive behaviour toward staff ratrher any prejudice on her views which seem to be aligned with Rowling. The dispute centres on an incident where Bailey reportedly became angry when informed the practice lacked flea and worming medication for her dog. Staff allege she reacted confrontationally, with internal emails describing her as 'absolutely vile' and 'intimidating.' One staff member said she was the rudest client they had ever encountered. Bailey denies ever shouting or losing her temper and insists she maintained a respectful relationship with the clinic over 13 years and 120 visits. She said she had even received a condolence card and flower seeds from the practice following the death of her dog, Poppy. In court, Bailey's legal team, led by Akua Reindorf KC, argued that the evidence against her was sparse and unreliable. They highlighted the lack of documentation or formal warnings from staff and criticised the clinic for not presenting key witnesses. Bailey's lawyers insist the burden of proof lies with the clinic to demonstrate that the decision was not discriminatory. Defence barrister Gus Baker rejected claims of discrimination, stating that the ban stemmed from how Bailey was perceived during stressful situations and not from her beliefs. He said the decision was triggered by a pattern of behaviour that violated the practice's zero-tolerance policy. The hearing, which follows Bailey's previous legal battle against LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall and her co-founding of the LGB Alliance, continues in court this week.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Sir Stephen Fry turns on JK Rowling and claims she's been ‘radicalised'
Sir Stephen Fry has spoken out against Harry Potter author JK Rowling for being radicalised by TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists). The comedian and actor, 67, famously narrated the Harry Potter book series and in 2022 stood by Rowling despite her 'upsetting' views. Now, years on from this comment, Fry has seemingly had a change of heart as he criticised the author publicly in a live recording of the podcast The Show People in Clapham. 'She has been radicalised, I fear, and it may be she has been radicalised by TERFs, but also by the vitriol that is thrown at her,' he told host Andrew Keates at the live event attended by the MailOnline. 'It is unhelpful and only hardens her and will only continue to harden her, I am afraid.' He added that she is a 'lost cause'. 'I am not saying that she should not be called out when she says things that are really cruel, wrong and mocking. She seems to be a lost cause for us.' The Harry Potter author upset and angered many people as she celebrated the Supreme Court ruling on sex earlier this year in May. The writer posed with a cigarillo in her mouth and a drink in her hand on her yacht in the Caribbean Sea as she toasted the ruling: 'I love it when a plan comes together.' The ruling saw Lord Hodge say the term 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010 should be defined according to biological sex assigned at birth. That definition means trans people can now be blocked from accessing designated single-sex spaces. Fry suggested that her recent comments changed his previous stance: 'She started to make these peculiar statements and had very strong, difficult views. She seemed to wake up or kick a hornet's nest of transphobia, which has been entirely destructive. 'I disagree profoundly with her on this subject. I am angry she does not disavow some of the more revolting and truly horrible, destructive violently destructive things that people say. She does not attack those at all. 'She says things that are inflammatory and contemptuous, mocking and add to a terribly distressing time for trans people.' He emphatically stated that he was 'happy to go on the record' and say he was 'really angry' about her comments. He added that he was 'sorry because I always liked her company' and that he found her 'charming, funny, and interesting'. In 2022, Fry said on the Beeb Watch podcast: 'She is a friend of mine and I have trans friends and intersex friends who are deeply upset by her. 'That is a circle I have to square personally.' 'I know that JK Rowling doesn't want to see trans people bullied, alienated, shut out of society, made to feel ashamed, guilty, laughed at, all those things. He added that he wanted to stay firmly on the fence when it came to this debate. 'It is not an argument I want to get involved in because it is upsetting to both sides and I would wish them both to retreat and to consider that is possible for trans people to live full, accepted lives according to their terms in society, and for women to have all the rights and dignities they demand.' His recent comments show he is no longer comfortable sitting on the fence, and Fry isn't the only celebrity who has worked with Rowling and spoken out against her TERF views. In response to Rowling's initial comments about gender in 2020, Emma Watson shared her support for the transgender community. The actress who played Hermione in the Harry Potter series said on social media: 'Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are. 'I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.' In 2020, Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the film series, commented: ' 'As someone who has been honoured to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment. 'Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I,' he said in the lengthy post. Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the film series, was criticised recently when he refused to take a stance on Rowling as he signed on to reprise his character in the Potter stage play The Cursed Child. More Trending When asked directly whether the controversy around JK Rowling's divisive position on the trans community had impacted his work with the franchise, Felton responded, 'I can't say it does, I'm not really that attuned to it.' He added: 'I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter. She's responsible for that, so I'm incredibly grateful.' Metro reached out to JK Rowling's representatives, who declined to comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Stephen Fry reveals why he put himself through 'agony' of Celebrity Traitors MORE: Harry Potter star's new TV show with trans icon is coming out imminently MORE: Harry Potter fans spot major casting problem – but there's a simple answer
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Scottish government given deadline to implement ruling on biological sex
The Scottish government has been given a deadline to implement the UK supreme court's ruling on biological sex across all public bodies or face further legal challenges. Sex Matters, the UK-wide gender-critical campaign group, has threatened legal action in 14 days if ministers continue 'intolerable' delays to new policies and guidance required by April's landmark ruling that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 does not include transgender women who hold gender recognition certificates. The move reflects ongoing frustration among gender-critical campaign groups at what For Women Scotland, who brought the supreme court case, described as 'extraordinary pushback' since the unanimous judgment. Politicians, LGBT+ rights groups and prominent supporters have raised concerns that the ruling could result in the erosion of rights, privacy and dignity of trans people across the UK. These fears were increased after the equality watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) brought out interim advice soon after the judgment which, they said, amounted to a blanket ban on trans people using toilets of their lived gender, which many in the community said effectively excluded them from public spaces. The ruling has wide-ranging implications for service providers, public bodies and businesses, with the EHRC currently consulting on a revised code of practice that will provide a practical guide on implementation. However, the Sex Matters letter says the consultation is 'not an invitation – particularly to public authorities – to act in a way that is unlawful in the meantime'. Sex Matters intervened in the supreme court case that was brought by For Women Scotland against the Scottish government over a law aimed at improving gender representation on public boards. Maya Forstater, a founder of Sex Matters, said the supreme court was clear that legal protection for trans people 'does not translate into a right to use opposite-sex services', adding that allowing trans women to use women's toilets, showers and changing rooms had 'created a hostile environment for women'. Sex Matters is particularly concerned about the Scottish government's guidance for schools, which encourage teaching staff offer flexible arrangements for young transgender people and states that the use of toilets is governed by social convention rather than law. The Good Law Project, which is challenging the EHRC's interim advice in court next month, revealed earlier this week that the commission appeared to be rolling back on its initial blanket position. Last weekend, For Women Scotland co-director Susan Smith encouraged individuals to 'keep pressure on MSPs and MPs', and make use of the fighting fund announced by the author and activist, JK Rowling, to launch their own actions. Rowling said the fund was 'not going to be sharing any details or figures about applications and inquiries, as it's a private fund, not a fundraising charity, and funding details are strictly confidential'. A Scottish government spokesperson said that they would respond to the letter in due course. They said: 'The Scottish government has been clear that we accept the supreme court judgment. We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Supreme Court ruling has ‘changed landscape' of Peggie tribunal
Maya Forstater, chief executive of campaign group Sex Matters, was speaking during a visit to Holyrood with Ms Peggie on Wednesday, where the pair met a number of politicians to discuss the impact the legal proceedings have had on Ms Peggie. The nurse, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for 30 years, was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton. She took the health board and Dr Upton to an employment tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. The visit to Holyrood also came shortly after a letter from Sex Matters to the Scottish Government threatening legal action if they did not implement April's Supreme Court judgement on biological sex in equalities law. The ruling stated said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex, which has implications for access to single-sex spaces. Asked how the judgment had affected the ongoing tribunal, Ms Forstater said: 'I think it's really changed the landscape. You can't ignore it. 'But in practical terms, it was only about people with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs), and the doctor in this case didn't have a GRC. 'So, what NHS Fife was doing was unlawful before the Supreme Court judgment (and) it's definitely unlawful now. And I think everyone can see that.' She said of Wednesday's meetings that it had been 'important' for politicians to hear what Ms Peggie had been through as as result of 'bad policies that NHS Fife, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government (are) still sticking with'. She went on: 'All the politicians we met really understand the human impact of this on women. 'That Sandie's rights at work were abused because of bad policies, bad decisions, right from the top. 'And what they heard was the real human impact on her.' She added that there was 'really no excuse' for delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. 'The law is clear from the moment that the Supreme Court gave their judgment, the Scottish Government, all public bodies, all private employers, were obliged to act,' she said. Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon also took part in the visit. Afterwards she said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years' unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man. 'We were grateful for the politicians' time and welcomed the opportunity to share insights into how misguided actions by public bodies such as NHS Fife have devastating real-life consequences and come at great expense to the Scottish taxpayer. 'We had productive meetings, and the door is always open for any politicians who were unable to meet Sandie today.' Tribunal hearings took place in February and it will resume in July. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay was one of the politicians that Sandie Peggie met during her visit. Commenting afterwards, he said: 'It was a privilege to meet Sandie Peggie and to hear a first-hand account of her appalling ordeal. 'It is outrageous that a dedicated NHS nurse's career has been destroyed and her life consumed by a suffocating legal process simply because she stood up for women's rights. 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP Government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector. 'NHS Fife should stop squandering vast sums of taxpayers' cash on this nonsense and every state agency in Scotland must now respect the law and women's rights.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government has been clear that we accept the Supreme Court judgment. 'We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment. 'This will prepare us to take all necessary steps when the regulator of the Equality Act 2010, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, publishes its revised Statutory Code of Practice and associated guidance for services, public functions and associations. 'The EHRC is currently consulting on this revised Code of Practice. 'The Scottish Government's approach is aligned with that of the UK Government and Welsh Government in awaiting the EHRC's revised Statutory Code of Practice. 'We will respond to the letter in due course.' The spokesperson added that it would be inappropriate to comment on Ms Peggie's case while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing. NHS Fife has been approached for comment.
