In April 2025, UK Supreme Court’s ruled that the term “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to “biological sex” only (rather than gender identity). According to the new ruling, a person’s legal sex is the one recorded at birth, even if they have since obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate. This change has sweeping implications for trans people’s rights, including their access to single-sex spaces, protections from discrimination, and wider participation in public life. In response, Queen Mary UCU passed a motion in May 2025 reaffirming our commitment to trans solidarity and opposing any moves that would legitimise gender policing or roll back legal protections for trans people. That motion called on the branch to resist transphobia, campaign against changes to the Equality Act, and support national efforts to defend trans rights.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) launched a public consultation to gather feedback on changes it made to its code of practice following the Supreme Court ruling. The branch strongly opposes the attempt to redefine “sex” in the Equality Act in a way that strips away protections for trans people. This would not only undermine the Equality Act’s purpose but also make universities less safe and less inclusive for staff and students alike. As part of our trans solidarity work, Queen Mary UCU has submitted a response to the EHRC consultation, which is here in full. The response highlighted our members’ extensive concerns about the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on trans, non-binary, and gender-non-conforming students and staff.

As a union branch, we are committed to defending the rights and dignity of all our members. Universities must be spaces of learning and freedom from harassment. Trade unions like UCU play a vital role in upholding those values, and our submission affirms our stance: trans rights are workers’ rights, and we will continue to organise against discrimination in all its forms.