One year on: how landmark ruling on single-sex spaces has changed lives

Some campaigners are frustrated at slow pace of change, while those impacted are trying to work out what it means day-to-day

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year ago, the supreme court made its landmark judgment on single-sex spaces. In a long-running case against the Scottish government brought by gender-critical campaigners For Women Scotland (FWS), the court ruled that, for the purposes of the Equality Act, the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex.

The judgment has significant ramifications for who can now access women-only services and spaces, such as refuges or toilets. But most service providers are still awaiting practical guidance on how to apply the ruling.

Guidance exists – contained in an updated code of practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) – and on Tuesday it emerged that the commission has resubmitted this guidance for government approval.