Oxford trans rights protest this weekend after EHRC guidance

The protest, by activist group Oxford 4 Trans Rights, is happening on Saturday to protest the updated code of practice written by the UK equalities watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

In a statement, the group said: “Now is the time to stand up for ourselves, and for our friends, family and community to send a message that we will relentlessly resist trans exclusion and discrimination.

“Please join us this Saturday as we protest for our rights, reject the EHRC guidance.”

The group are meeting this Saturday in Oxford’s Bonn Square at 3pm.

The guidance update covers all nine protected characteristics, such as disability, race and sexual orientation, but there is especial focus on this update because it also includes practical guidance on how to apply last year’s Supreme Court ruling about single-sex spaces.

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The landmark judgement said that, for the purposes of the Equality Act, the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex.

This has had ramifications for who can now access women-only services and spaces, such as refuges or toilets.

The new code reinforces last April’s ruling, and gives a wide variety of practical examples showing how service providers might apply it.

The code is clear that if a service provider admits a trans person to a service that aligns to their lived gender, that service can no longer be described as single sex and the provider is “very likely” to be at risk of legal challenge.

The updated guidance has been condemned by many activist groups as a step back in equality and inclusion.