We'll take time to get trans guidance right, says minister

"Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the government is "taking the time to get this right" before implementing guidance on the use of single-sex spaces by trans people. The Times has reported that the final guidance, sent to ministers nearly three months ago, would allow places such as hospitals and gyms to question transgender women over whether they should be using single-sex services based on how they look."

"The 300-page document was drawn up the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chaired by Baroness Falkner after the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that legally a woman should be defined by biological sex. The EHRC has to provide practical advice to businesses and services about how this should work in practice. It has previously said that single-sex spaces should only be open to people of the same biological sex, otherwise they cease to be single-sex areas."

"That would mean, for instance, that a trans woman — a biological male who identifies as a woman — would not be able to use women's toilets and changing rooms. Although they said they should offer transgender people suitable alternatives where possible. The EHRC has said transgender people, who are also protected by equalities law, should be treated with dignity and respect."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government is taking time before implementing guidance on single-sex spaces for transgender people. Final guidance, sent to ministers months earlier, would allow hospitals and gyms to question transgender women about using single-sex services based on appearance. Phillipson said she will consider the code thoroughly and carefully and stressed the need to protect women's access to single-service provisions such as rape crisis centres while ensuring transgender people are treated with dignity and respect. The 300-page EHRC document, produced after a Supreme Court ruling defining woman by biological sex, advises that single-sex spaces should be restricted to people of the same biological sex and that suitable alternatives should be offered where possible.

Read at www.bbc.com