Rebecca has welcomed the Supreme Court Ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
The case was brought about following the Scottish Government’s inclusion of transgender women in quotas to ensure gender balance on public sector boards. Campaign group For Women Scotland contended that sex-based protections should only be applicable to women born female.
The Supreme Court judges were tasked with ruling on the correct interpretation of “sex” and “woman” in the legislation setting out sex-based legal protections.
Following the Court’s ruling, Rebecca said:
“I’m somewhat in disbelief that it’s taken a court to confirm what we all know to be true. That a woman is born, not made. I want to thank all the brave women and men out there who have fearlessly told the truth in the face of accusations of bigotry and transphobia. Common sense has prevailed. Sex is real, it’s biological and it matters in certain situations, like that of sport, healthcare and changing/toilet facilities.
“It’s now vitally important that local authorities, the NHS, schools, prisons and sporting groups ensure their approach is in line with this recent judgement and single sex provision is truly that.”
Rebecca has been a strong advocate of sex-based women’s rights and last month spoke from the front bench in Parliament against the inclusion of men competing against women in female sports. During a debate last month on access to sport and PE in schools, Rebecca said:
“I cannot speak about the importance of sport without touching on the subject of sex. The concerning trend of gender ideology threatens to undermine efforts to promote sport among young women and girls. Let me be clear: it is bodies that play sport, not feelings. In women and girls’ sports, participants must be separated by sex, not only for safety reasons but for fundamental fairness. Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE has been warning about the negative impact of this issue on women’s sport for many years, and it is important that she and other advocates for women are listened to.”
