Gender reassignment discrimination: Claim blackballed?

26 September 2025 / Charles Pigott

Issue: 8132 / Categories: Features , Employment , Discrimination , Human rights , Sports law

Charles Pigott on how the courts are applying the For Women Scotland ruling

A county court judge has applied For Women Scotland in a dispute over the membership rules of a sporting association.
This is believed to be the first judicial consideration of the ruling at any level in the context of a discrimination claim.

The reserved judgment in Haynes v Thomson on behalf of the English Blackball Pool Federation [2025] EWCC 50 was published on 1 August. It involved a claim for direct gender reassignment discrimination, brought by Ms Haynes. She is a trans woman and is described as an expert player of English eight-ball pool. She has a gender recognition certificate (GRC) under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

The federation is an unincorporated association which organises pool competitions in England. In August 2023, it announced a change in its rules so that only people born female would be permitted to play in is female competitions and teams. That meant that Ms Haynes could no

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Gender reassignment discrimination: Claim blackballed?

Charles Pigott on how the courts are applying the For Women Scotland ruling

A county court judge has applied For Women Scotland in a dispute over the membership rules of a sporting association.
This is believed to be the first judicial consideration of the ruling at any level in the context of a discrimination claim.

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

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...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

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Gender reassignment discrimination: Claim blackballed?

MOVERS & SHAKERS

National Pro Bono Centre—Esther McConnell & Sarah Oliver Scemla

Michelman Robinson—Akshay Sewlikar

McDermott Will & Schulte—Karen Butler