Schools in England and Wales using ‘gender toolkit’ risk being sued by parents – The Guardian

‘Leading barrister warns that the kit – used to support gender-questioning children – is likely to be in breach of equality laws and could violate pupils’ rights.’

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The Guardian, 13th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Discrimination, belief and the “fundamental party rights”: the judgment in Ali v Green Party of England and Wales – Cloisters

‘The County Court has given judgment in Ali v Green Party of England and Wales [Central London County Court, 9 February 2024]. For the first time, the court had to consider the interaction between the Equality Act 2010 association provisions, the protected characteristic of belief, and the rights of political parties and their members under the European Convention on Human Rights. The decision will be of great interest to political parties and campaigners of all kinds.’

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Cloisters, 9th February 2024

Source: www.cloisters.com

Shahrar Ali wins ‘gender critical’ court battle against Green Party – BBC News

‘The Green Party discriminated against former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali during a row over his gender critical beliefs, a court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Either not Neither: further consideration of non-binary identity by the High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 5th, 2024 in gender, human rights, news by sally

‘The Divisional Court (Lady Justice Laing and Mrs Justice Heather Williams) confirmed in R (Castellucii) v The Gender Recognition Panel and the Minister for Women and Equalities [2024] EWHC 54 (Admin) that the Gender Recognition Panel has no power under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to issue a Gender Recognition Certificate that records an applicant’s gender as “non-binary”. It also held that this did not breach any of the Claimant’s rights under Article 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 5th February 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Social worker wins discrimination case over gender critical beliefs – The Guardian

‘A social worker who was suspended after sharing gender critical beliefs online has won her claim against her employer for discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman jailed after posing as man and duping partner into sex – The Guardian

Posted December 21st, 2023 in deceit, gender, imprisonment, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A woman has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in jail for sexual assault after pretending to be a man to dupe a woman into sex using a blindfold, a sex toy and a “wholly fake persona”.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Schools in England ‘face legal risks if they follow new transgender guidance’ – The Guardian

‘Schools in England could face legal action if they follow new guidance on how to treat transgender children, ministers’ own lawyers have reportedly warned.’

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The Guardian, 20th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scottish court rules UK government veto of gender recognition bill lawful – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2023 in bills, devolution, devolution issues, equality, gender, news, Scotland, transgender persons by michael

‘In a ruling that will disappoint LGBTQ+ campaigners and offers a boost to Rishi Sunak at the end of a difficult week, Lady Haldane rejected the Scottish government’s petition to rule the UK government’s section 35 veto – contained in the 1998 Scotland Act, which created the devolved parliament – as unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK’s human-rights watchdog at risk of UN downgrade – The Guardian

‘Britain’s equality watchdog could lose its right to participate at the UN human rights council as a result of complaints about its independence and record on transgender rights.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gender Reassignment Protection Within the Equality Act 2010 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘Protection for individuals who are transgender is conferred by Section 7 of the Equality Act 2010 which makes ‘gender reassignment’ a protected characteristic.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 4th October 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Lessons for Employers in handling Gender-transition at work – AB v Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames – Old Square Chambers

‘The London South Employment Tribunal (EJ McLaren and lay members) has handed down judgment and written reasons in AB v Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames.’

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Old Square Chambers, 19th October 2023

Source: oldsquare.co.uk

Equalities minister apologises for delay in Bill banning conversion therapy – The Independent

‘An equalities minister has apologised for the delay in bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy, but did not commit to its inclusion in the King’s Speech when challenged.’

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The Independent, 25th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sunak to push ahead with delayed ban on gay and trans conversion practices – The Guardian

‘Rishi Sunak will push ahead with long-delayed plans to ban gay and trans conversion practices after Conservative whips warned MPs could rebel if they failed to do so.’

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The Guardian, 19th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Conversion therapy: Equality watchdog calls for ban – BBC News

‘Britain’s equality watchdog has called on the government to ban “harmful” conversion-therapy practices.’

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BBC News, 17th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court Finds Long Waiting Times for Trans Healthcare are Lawful – QMLR

‘The demand for young people receiving gender identity development services (“GIDS”) and for adults receiving gender identity disorder services (also, helpfully, “GIDS”) has increased substantially from 2012 to 2017, and the NHS is struggling to meet this demand. In May 2022, young people seen for the first time following a children’s GIDS referral waited on average for 1066 days (i.e. nearly three years), see [32]. The reality is that many trans patients feel forced to have treatment privately, often resorting to “crowdfunding” to cover their private medical expenses. For many young trans people, such long waiting times for treatment have a significant detrimental impact on their mental health and in the process, many undergo irreversible physiological changes.’

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QMLR, 18th July 2023

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Mermaids v LGB Alliance: Tribunal rejects attempt to deregister controversial charity – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Despite what the parties and their supporters hoped, this case (Mermaids v The Charity Commission of England and Wales & LGB Alliance [2023] ULKFTT 563 (GRC)) was not – said the Tribunal – about the rights of gender diverse people (as represented by Mermaids) or the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual people (represented by the LGB Alliance). On the face of it, the issue decided by the Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber, Charity) on 6 July 2023 was a narrow one: whether Mermaids was entitled to challenge the Charity Commission’s decision to register the LGB Alliance as a charity. But its ruling – that Mermaids could not – was highly significant as a robust affirmation of the value of debate in a democratic society.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th July 2023

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK equality watchdog restarts inquiry into bullying claims against chair – The Guardian

‘Britain’s equality watchdog has restarted an investigation into complaints of bullying and harassment made against its chair, Kishwer Falkner.’

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The Guardian, 18th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employment law highlights “gender gap” in civil legal justice – Legal Futures

‘Employment law is one of the main areas where women face systemic barriers to seeking civil legal help and legal aid needs to be expanded as a result, a feminist think tank has urged.’

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Legal Futures, 17th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firms urged to ‘focus on what really works’ to tackle gender inequality – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2023 in diversity, equality, gender, law firms, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by tracey

‘Law firms have been urged to focus on what actually works when it comes to tackling gender inequality, after a survey found most female legal professionals believe measures adopted by their organisations to be ineffective.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 14th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

What is conversion therapy and will it be banned? – The Independent

‘Five years have passed since the Government announced its intention to ban conversion therapies. Here is what has happened since.’

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The Independent, 3rd July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk