The devastating impact of the Supreme Court judgment

Last week, Good Law Project invited the community to tell us how the Supreme Court’s stripping back of trans rights has impacted their lives. The response has been overwhelming. We’ve received hundreds of submissions, outlining the devastating impact the ruling has had on trans and non-trans people alike.

Most of these messages have been full of fear. Trans people say that they now feel unsafe both in public spaces and at work. People have been told by their employers that they can no longer use the toilets they’ve been using for years, which could force them to out themselves. People who work on the road and on building sites tell us that there are very often no gender-neutral or accessible spaces for them to use, which means they could lose their jobs. And trans people reaching out have expressed concern for others, telling us that they don’t want to take up the few accessible toilets available, which are needed by disabled people.

Even when people haven’t been excluded explicitly, the irresponsible comments from politicians and the premature “interim update” from the Equality and Human Rights Commission mean that people are in fear of policing and violence. Trans people are being pushed to the margins, feeling unable to carry on taking part in public life. And it’s not just trans people – cis women have also told us they now live in fear of being challenged when using the women’s toilet. Shockingly, we have already heard stories of violence following the ruling, including harassment and physical assault.

Trans people feel like this ruling has given permission to shun them out of public life, making them smaller, and telling them they don’t belong. Lots of trans people spoke to us about the emotional impact of learning they can no longer take part in the hobbies they love, or spend time in the communities that made them feel welcome. It has shattered a broader sense of safety and inclusion within society. People say that anti-trans sentiment has increased, and that bigotry has been given the green light. Many have told us about the severe impact this has had on their mental health. Some have said they are considering fleeing the country. 

We refuse to let this become the new status quo. At Good Law Project, we’re working alongside the trans community to fight this injustice. We’re raising funds to look at both domestic and international cases, all the way up to the European Court of Human Rights. The fight will be a long one, and we need your support to win. But now we know that the fight is more important than ever.