Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex
The Parliament petitions site records 109,461 signatures for this petition, which closed on 20 April 2023. The Government responded on 26 January 2023. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 12 June 2023.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex
The Government must exercise its power under s.23 of the Gender Recognition Act to modify the operation of the Equality Act 2010 by specifying the terms sex, male, female, man & woman, in the operation of that law, mean biological sex and not "sex as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate"
The Equality Act 2010 covers nine separate protected characteristics, including “Sex” & “Gender Reassignment”. This protects people against sex discrimination and discrimination because a person is transgender.
There has been much confusion about how the Equality Act and GRA interact. This has caused uncertainty and conflict for women, transgender people, and service providers. The GRA includes a provision to amend other laws to make it clear whether a GRC changes the definition of sex for that law.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 26 January 2023; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
Under the Equality Act 2010, providers are already able to restrict the use of spaces/services on the basis of sex and/or gender reassignment where justified. Further clarification is not necessary.
The response in full:
The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation across a number of grounds, including sex. We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published guidance on the existing legislation which provides much needed clarity to those offering single-sex spaces. It does not change the legal position or the law.
As the guidance makes clear, it is entirely acceptable for providers of single-sex services to take account of the biological sex of their service users. Where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, the Equality Act 2010 is clear that service providers can exclude, modify or limit access for transgender people, even where they have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). This includes where a service provider has concerns that the presence of individuals who are biologically male could prevent them from meeting their aims, such as in the example below, included in the guidance:
“A group counselling session is provided for female victims of sexual assault. The organisers do not allow trans women to attend as they judge that the clients who attend the group session are likely to be traumatised by the presence of a person who is biologically male.”
It is important that providers of single-sex services are clear that biological sex can be taken into consideration when providing services.
The Government is committed to maintaining the safeguards that allow organisations to provide single-sex spaces. It is important that the principle of being able to operate spaces reserved for women and girls is maintained. Government is committed to tackling harassment and abusive behaviours by all individuals, and ensuring single-sex spaces are safe for those using them.
Cabinet Office
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 790, came from Edinburgh North and Leith.
107,377 of the signatures were from the UK and 2,084 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh North and Leith | 790 |
| Edinburgh South | 637 |
| Edinburgh East | 566 |
| Edinburgh South West | 553 |
| Edinburgh West | 546 |
| East Renfrewshire | 512 |
| Hornsey and Wood Green | 504 |
| East Lothian | 483 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 472 |
| Argyll and Bute | 450 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 19,728 |
| South East | 16,337 |
| London | 14,482 |
| North West | 9,483 |
| South West | 9,414 |
| East of England | 9,104 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 6,746 |
| West Midlands | 6,108 |
| East Midlands | 5,551 |
| Wales | 4,721 |
| North East | 3,175 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,795 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 12 June 2023. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/623243.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
23833438ecd70c22… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.