A landmark decision by the UK Supreme Court, which defined “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 as only referring to natural females, has sparked a wave of help for writer JK Rowling on social media, with some humming her as a stand-in for the continuing debate over gender identity and women’s rights.
Rowling, a vocal supporter of gender-critical sexism, responded to the decision with a blog on X, sharing a smiling image of herself with the caption” I love it when a program comes up. # WomensRights# SupremeCourt#. The blog immediately attracted notice, causing both support and criticism.
One of the many people who praised Rowling was a user who wrote: “JK Rowling is one of the most valiant people of our time… she had every opportunity to collapse on Trans and she did not, rather fighting and giving people the courage ( and resources ) to battle. A timeless human reality and a victory for the ages. It’s amazing how far a select few went to, just to confirm what we all believe to be common sense, while others called her “inspiring”, “witty,” and” a woman with integrity.”
In contrast to the Scottish Government’s broad definition, which included transgender women with Gender Recognition Certificates, the Supreme Court’s decision clarified that” sex” and “woman” in the Equality Act should be interpreted based on biological sex. The group For Women Scotland ( FWS), which is against the redefinition of “woman” for public sector equality duties, filed a case in response to the decision.
Also read: According to the UK Supreme Court, trans women are not legally considered “women” under the Equality Act.
Following the verdict, Rowling said in a statement that” this case has protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.”
The ruling is widely regarded as a setback for trans rights groups, despite the court’s reaffirmation that transgender people are still subject to the law’s prohibition against discrimination, though this is only under the distinct “gender reassignment.” Organisations representing LGBT+ expressed concern that it might restrict trans women’s access to only women’s restrooms and shelters.
A heated national debate over gender identity, legal recognition, and the protection of sex-based rights has resurfaced since the ruling. While many applaud Rowling’s position, others continue to question whether or not her influence has impacted the discussion on inclusion and equality as a whole.
