Disability Rights UK opposes the UK Supreme Court ruling on ‘biological sex’

Disability Rights UK is deeply saddened by the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that declares trans women are not 'biological women'. As part of a movement that has always called for ‘nothing about us without us’ – we’re particularly concerned by the court’s exclusion of Trans voices in their decision, and their failure to be led by the lived experience of one of society’s most silenced groups. Decisions about any group’s rights should never be made without the involvement of those most impacted.  

We stand in solidarity with the Trans community as they experience an onslaught of rights erosions and attacks on their lives. No marginalised group faces injustice in a silo – systemic barriers and discrimination impact all of us. None of us are free until all of us are free.  

Around half of Trans people are also Disabled. Government policies already place disproportionate barriers on accessing vital healthcare, and now this ruling also erodes their protections against discrimination. 

Setting the precedent that it’s okay to weaken the rights of one group, undermines everyone else's rights. Prioritising a bio-essentialist view of gender harms everyone, especially Disabled people. A person’s anatomy, hormone levels, or ability to conceive does not define whether they are a ‘real’ woman.  

As Disabled people, we know all too well how media obsessions with legislating the lives of those they see as different leads to direct material harm. One week it’s welfare cuts, the next its Trans rights - we are worried about the continued trajectory of legal and parliamentary processes which seeks to deny people their lived reality and cut support from those who need it. 

Our community knows how it feels to be scapegoated simply for trying to access the necessities we need to live, something that Trans people are currently facing. Trans rights do not come at the expense of Disabled, or anyone else’s rights. In fact, our fight against ableism will never win without an end to transphobia too. Our access is not a risk to another group’s access.  

Trans and Disabled experiences have far more in common than you might think - if you’d like to learn more about this, you can read our blog post written by a Disabled Trans member of DR UK staff.