Stop the Scottish Government redefining “woman” to include men

We are challenging the Scottish Ministers over the redefinition of “woman” in the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 which we believe is outside the legislative competency of the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998 and in contravention of the Scottish Ministers’ duties under equality legislation.

The new definition includes some men, while, remarkably, excluding some women. This cannot be allowed to stand.

The Equality Act 2010 states that a woman is “a female of any age” and maintaining this definition is key to maintaining women’s rights and protections in law.

Permission has been granted for a judicial review and the hearing has been set for 7th January 2021.

More details about the case can be found on our Crowd Justice page where we are fundraising towards the legal costs. Please support us with donations, large and small, and sharing the page with your friends and family.

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Forwomen.scot is a group of ordinary women from all over Scotland who have come together to protect and strengthen women’s and children’s rights.

The Scottish Government plans to amend the Gender Recognition Act to allow any man to self-declare himself to be a woman.  This would not require any medical treatment or surgery, or even any change in appearance.

Only 18 per cent of respondents in a national, independently commissioned poll agree with these proposals.

We are concerned about the consequences of these proposals to our sex based legal rights and protections.  Many organisations are acting as though it is already law, bringing in policies that encourage men to enter women’s and girls’ spaces.  Examples include hospital wards, refuges, toilets, changing rooms, school and girl guide overnight accommodation, hostels, university rooms, and prisons.  Medical treatment and research, crime statistics, programmes for women in politics and STEM subjects, and women’s sports are also adversely affected.

We believe:

– sex is immutable and is a protected characteristic;
– women are entitled to privacy, dignity, safety and fairness;
– women’s rights should be strengthened.

As our name suggests, we campaign on a positive, pro-women basis and we call for evidence based discussion and legislation.

Directors: Trina Budge, Marion Calder and Susan Smith

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