US EditionEHRC says people could be asked for birth certificates to prove biological sex
- On May 23, 2025, the UK’s equalities watchdog released a consultation document proposing that birth certificates may be requested by certain services, such as sports clubs or hospitals, when there is genuine uncertainty about an individual’s biological sex.
- This guidance follows the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling that defined 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 by biological sex, prompting the EHRC to clarify compliance requirements for providers.
- The draft code applies to various providers, including sports clubs, hospitals, and leisure centres, and allows requesting birth certificates only when there is genuine concern about a person’s biological sex.
- Baroness Kishwer Falkner, EHRC chairwoman, emphasized the code must be an accurate and clear interpretation of the law, urging public consultation through June 30 and noting the guidance’s calm, factual tone.
- The guidance aims to help service providers balance protecting single-sex services and respecting all rights, amid strong societal views and an ongoing legal challenge by the Good Law Project.
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13 Articles
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Hospitals and gyms can 'request birth certificates to prove sex' when entering single-sex spaces, equality regulator says
Hospitals and gyms can now request birth certificates of transgender people to protect single-sex services.The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that as long as it is done in a "sensitive way", a request for a birth certificate can be granted if it is "necessary and proportionate".The EHRC did warn that requesting a trans person's birth sex could open up claims of discrimination under human rights laws. It has also published guidanc…
EHRC Proposes Allowing Hospitals and Gyms to Request Birth Certificates to Prove Sex
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has released its code of practice consultation on how public buildings such as shops, hospitals and sports clubs should interpret the Equality Act following the Supreme Court Ruling that a woman is a biological female.[…] Read the rest
Evening Standard
EHRC says people could be asked for birth certificates to prove biological sex
The consultation period was extended from two weeks to six ‘in light of the level of public interest’, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said.
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