<p>London: The United Kingdom's highest court ruled on Wednesday that the definition of a woman under equality legislation referred to "biological sex", but it said trans people would not be disadvantaged by its landmark decision.</p><p>The Supreme Court's judgment related to whether a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate, a formal document that gives legal recognition of someone's new gender, is protected from discrimination as a woman under Britain's Equality Act.</p><p>The landmark case is the latest example of the wider debate around transgender rights ending up before the courts.</p><p>Campaign group For Women Scotland had argued rights under the Equality Act should only apply based on a person's biological sex. It had challenged guidance issued by the devolved Scottish government that accompanied a 2018 law designed to increase the proportion of women on public sector boards.</p>.UK's highest court to rule on definition of 'woman' under equality laws in landmark transgender rights case.<p>Scottish ministers' guidance said a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate was legally a woman.</p><p>After For Women Scotland had lost in the Scottish courts, the Supreme Court ruled in the campaign group's favour after an appeal last November, a decision greeted by cheering outside the building.</p><p>"The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms 'women' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex," Deputy President of the Supreme Court Patrick Hodge said.</p><p>"But we counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph for one or more groups in our society at the expense of another - it is not," he added.</p><p>Critics of the Scottish law had said its definition could impact single-sex services for women such as refuges, hospital wards and sports.</p><p>But transgender campaigners had said if the court ruled in favour of For Women Scotland, it could lead to discrimination against those with gender recognition certificates, especially over employment issues.</p><p>"The correct interpretation of the EA (Equality Act) as referring to biological sex does not cause disadvantage to trans people, whether or not they possess a gender recognition certificate," Hodge said.</p><p>"Trans people have the rights which attach to the protected characteristic of gender reassignment."</p><p>In the United States, legal challenges are underway after President Donald Trump issued executive orders that include barring transgender people from military service.</p>
<p>London: The United Kingdom's highest court ruled on Wednesday that the definition of a woman under equality legislation referred to "biological sex", but it said trans people would not be disadvantaged by its landmark decision.</p><p>The Supreme Court's judgment related to whether a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate, a formal document that gives legal recognition of someone's new gender, is protected from discrimination as a woman under Britain's Equality Act.</p><p>The landmark case is the latest example of the wider debate around transgender rights ending up before the courts.</p><p>Campaign group For Women Scotland had argued rights under the Equality Act should only apply based on a person's biological sex. It had challenged guidance issued by the devolved Scottish government that accompanied a 2018 law designed to increase the proportion of women on public sector boards.</p>.UK's highest court to rule on definition of 'woman' under equality laws in landmark transgender rights case.<p>Scottish ministers' guidance said a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate was legally a woman.</p><p>After For Women Scotland had lost in the Scottish courts, the Supreme Court ruled in the campaign group's favour after an appeal last November, a decision greeted by cheering outside the building.</p><p>"The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms 'women' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex," Deputy President of the Supreme Court Patrick Hodge said.</p><p>"But we counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph for one or more groups in our society at the expense of another - it is not," he added.</p><p>Critics of the Scottish law had said its definition could impact single-sex services for women such as refuges, hospital wards and sports.</p><p>But transgender campaigners had said if the court ruled in favour of For Women Scotland, it could lead to discrimination against those with gender recognition certificates, especially over employment issues.</p><p>"The correct interpretation of the EA (Equality Act) as referring to biological sex does not cause disadvantage to trans people, whether or not they possess a gender recognition certificate," Hodge said.</p><p>"Trans people have the rights which attach to the protected characteristic of gender reassignment."</p><p>In the United States, legal challenges are underway after President Donald Trump issued executive orders that include barring transgender people from military service.</p>