header-logo header-logo

Gender critical cases: making bad law?

169190
The law is tying itself in knots over gender critical cases. A new approach is needed urgently to make the UK safer for trans people, says Oscar Davies
  • In recent gender critical cases, judges have taken the wrong approach, permitting the erosion of trans and non-binary people’s rights.
  • Judges must focus on what the belief is, and whether it contains elements of transphobia.
  • If a belief is protected, the manifestations must comply with the Equality Act 2010, or the employer is likely to be justified in sanctioning the employee. Sex has its place, but gender identity—and trans identity—must be respected.

‘Gender critical’ cases are a hot seat of litigation in the UK. But are judges getting it right in their approach?

A ‘belief’ can be protected in certain circumstances under s 10 of the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010). Section 10 states: ‘Belief means any religious or philosophical belief and a reference to belief includes a reference to a lack of belief.’

For a philosophical

To access this full article please fill the form below.
All fields are mandatory unless marked as 'Optional'.
If you already a subscriber to New Law Journal, please login here

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Firm strengthens growth strategy and group litigation capability with senior hires

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
back-to-top-scroll