Single-Sex Spaces Code Comes into Force
New statutory guidance governing access to single-sex spaces such as toilets, changing rooms and refuges came into force on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of sex. The code sets out how services should apply the law when providing separate provision for men and women. It has been closely watched by campaigners on all sides of a bitter debate.
The guidance, issued by the equalities watchdog, follows a landmark judgment that the terms “man” and “woman” in equality law refer to biological sex, a decision that reverberated through workplaces, hospitals and public services. Supporters say it brings much-needed clarity for organisations unsure how to comply; critics, including some transgender-rights groups, warn it risks excluding trans people from everyday spaces. Businesses and public bodies must now navigate the new rules in practice. The debate is unlikely to quieten. Watch how services implement the code and whether it faces legal challenge.