We’re suing Virgin Active over their transphobic rules

Good Law Project are taking on Virgin Active, suing the company over their transphobic bathroom ban.

In February 2025, Michelle Dewberry – a GB News presenter and member of the anti-trans group Sex Matters – threatened legal action against Virgin Active over their inclusive policy on bathrooms and changing rooms. Virgin Active folded immediately, putting a changing room and bathroom ban on trans people across all 43 of their gyms in the UK.

But Dewberry’s threat relied on a misreading of the Supreme Court decision on the definition of sex under the Equality Act. The court never said that trans people can’t use an appropriate bathroom. And despite 8,500 people telling Virgin Active to stop following transphobes and follow the law, they didn’t listen.

So we’re taking legal action. We are representing two claimants who are members of Virgin Active gyms and who have been subject to discrimination solely because they are trans.

According to Virgin’s new policy, both of them can no longer use facilities like the pool and sauna because they can only be reached by going through either the men’s or women’s changing rooms. Both claimants have been so worried about using the gym that they have either greatly reduced or completely stopped using some facilities for fear of being harassed.

We are suing Virgin Active on the grounds of direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment against both claimants based on gender reassignment.

Virgin Active’s decision to abandon trans people is a shocking failure for a company that claims to be a proud supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. It’s time to hold them to account.