Supreme Court backs 'biological' definition of woman
In a landmark moment in the gender debate, the UK Supreme Court has unanimously backed the biological definition of "woman" under the 2010 Equality Act.
The ruling could have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales.
Judges sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought a case against the Scottish government arguing that sex-based protections should only apply to people that are born female.
Judge Lord Hodge said cautioned that the ruling should not be seen as victory of one side over another, and stressed that transgender people still have legal protection from discrimination.
The long-running legal dispute began with a bill passed at Holyrood in 2018 which aimed to ensure gender balance on public sector boards.
Lobby group For Women Scotland complained that ministers had included trans people as part of the quotas in that law.
