Respond With Us - EHRC Consultation on Trans Rights

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has released a consultation for proposed changes to Trans Rights. It is long, wordy and intimidating. That’s why we’ve organised Respond With Us, a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ people and allies to get advice, fill out the form, and grab a cake and cuppa.

Bring a laptop, tablet or phone. If you don't have any of these, we are able to provide on a limited basis.

We'll be there from 10am to 4pm, you can drop in any time.

You don't need an Eventbrite ticket to attend, it just helps give us an idea of how many people we can expect.

Background context

On the 16th April 2025 the Supreme Court ruled that the words "women" and "men" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to "biological women" and "biological men". When making its decision, the Supreme Court heard from several anti-trans groups, but it refused to hear from any trans people. Since then, one of the officials involved in drafting the Equality Act has even pointed out that the ruling contradicts what was intended.

However, only seven days after the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) (the body responsible for applying the Equality Act) issued interim guidance that went even further.

It suggests that trans women should not be allowed to access any ‘single-sex’ space designated for women (whether toilets, changing rooms, gym facilities or hospital wards) and trans men should not be allowed to access any ‘single-sex’ space designated for men.

The former president of the Supreme Court has said this is a misinterpretation of the ruling. Another former Supreme Court judge has also questioned the EHRC’s interpretation. Even the UN has raised concerns that both the ruling and the interim guidance could result in a breach of the UK’s human rights obligations.

What is the event?

The event is a drop-in space for trans people and allies to respond to the consultation on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (“EHRC”) proposed changes to its Code of Practice. 0.

Why is the consultation important?

In short, the proposed changes to the Code of Practice could result in trans people losing hard-won legal rights. The changes will, broadly, exclude trans women and trans men from any public space designated as ‘single sex’.

For example, the changes would force trans women and trans men to either use the toilets which match their sex assigned at birth or use disabled or gender-neutral toilets, putting them at risk of attack, humiliation and, in many cases, forcing them to ‘out’ themselves.

Although the public focus is on toilets, the changes are likely to apply to any public ‘single sex’ space, such as changing rooms, gym facilities and hospital wards.

Trans people are already one of the most persecuted, isolated and marginalised groups in society. It’s likely that these changes will make things even worse.

Why this event?

The EHRC has provided a six-week period during which it will receive responses to its proposed changes, and it is vitally important that as many people respond to the consultation as possible.

The consultation document itself is challenging - it frames the ‘debate’ in ways that may be difficult or triggering for trans people, and the questions themselves could be difficult to answer without causing distress.

We want this event to be a welcoming, calm and supportive space for trans people and allies to respond to the consultation. We will also have cake.

Can't make the event?

If you can't attend this event, we would strongly encourage you to fill out the form to the best of your ability. Please use find more guidance on our Linktree. The deadline is 30th June 2025.

Please share the consultation far and wide in your networks and encourage others to respond. You can find res Our time is now, and we need as many voices as possible to respond to this important event!

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ACCESS INFORMATION

• Venue is fully wheelchair accessible
• Gender neutral toilets
• There will be background music playing at a low volume
• There are large windows in the venue, letting in lots of natural daylight
• We will be sat to the right of the main entrance

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