Trans Parenthood in the UK: The “Unanswered Questions” of the McConnell Litigation – Cambridge Law Journal

‘This article considers three “unanswered questions” raised by R. (McConnell) v Registrar General for England and Wales (AIRE Centre Intervening) [2020] EWCA Civ. 559, which held that a trans man (with a Gender Recognition Certificate) who gave birth must be registered as “mother” on his child’s birth certificate. This article considers these questions to clearly situate McConnell within the context of the UK’s legal regimes concerning access to fertility treatment, gender recognition and legal parenthood in cases involving assisted reproduction. The article argues that clearly establishing the current legal position will provide the proper context to facilitate any subsequent legal reforms.’

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Cambridge Law Journal, 3rd October 2024

Source: www.cambridge.org

Trans children’s charity told to rewrite guidance on puberty blockers – The Guardian

‘A charity supporting gender-questioning young people has been told to rewrite its guidance about the risks of puberty blockers, after a two-year Charity Commission investigation, which also concluded that there had been mismanagement within the organisation. However, the investigation found that the charity, Mermaids, had appropriate safeguarding policies in place and there was no evidence that it provided medical advice to children, which would have been outside its remit.’

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The Guardian, 24th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family court judges use victim-blaming language in domestic abuse cases, finds AI project – The Guardian

‘Judges in the family courts are using victim-blaming and gender-biased language towards domestic abuse survivors, AI analysis of judgments and appeals in England and Wales reveals.’

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The Guardian, 8th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Social worker awarded £55k and £8k costs after accusing council employer of discriminating against protected beliefs – Local Government Lawyer

‘A social worker who worked for Cambridgeshire County Council has been awarded more than £55,000 in compensation and £8,000 in costs, after asserting that she was discriminated against for reasons relating to her gender critical beliefs and/or sexual orientation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Protected beliefs and pronouns policies – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Employment Tribunal has found that ‘XYchromosomeGuy’ who objected to his local authority employer’s pronouns policy was fairly dismissed. Jo Moseley looks at the lessons from the case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th August 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Student psychotherapist wins apology over expulsion for gender-critical views – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2024 in education, equality, freedom of expression, gender, homosexuality, news by sally

‘A student psychotherapist who was expelled from his master’s course after expressing gender-critical views has received an apology from the training institute where he was studying.’

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The Guardian15th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN concern over disciplinary case against UK lawyer for ‘boys’ club’ remarks – The Guardian

‘Four UN special rapporteurs have warned that disciplinary proceedings against a female barrister for saying a judge had shown a “boys’ club attitude” may send “a disconcerting message” to lawyers challenging gender bias in custody and domestic abuse cases.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Garrick Club votes to accept female members for first time – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2024 in clubs, diversity, equality, gender, news, women by sally

‘The men-only Garrick Club has finally voted to allow women to become members, 193 years after the London institution first opened its doors.’

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The Guardian, 7th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar earnings gap a “serious cultural and structural problem” – Legal Futures

‘The earnings gap between male and female barristers is not explained by caring responsibilities, choice of practice area, or amount of legally aided work”, new research by the Bar Council has found.’

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Legal Futures, 24th April 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Mind the early gender earnings gap at the Bar – new research from the Bar Council – The Bar Council

Posted April 24th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, fees, gender, news, remuneration, statistics, women by sally

‘Barristers and chambers can actively manage practice and career development to mitigate the earnings gap between men and women at the self-employed Bar, according to new research from the Bar Council: New practitioner earnings differentials at the self-employed Bar.’

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The Bar Council, 23rd April 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

In depth: Transgender athletes and sporting ‘integrity’ – lawyers divided – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 24th, 2024 in equality, gender, news, sport, women by sally

‘The controversial topic of transgender participation in women’s sport was discussed at the recent LawAccord conference. Speakers were – perhaps unsurprisingly – deeply divided on next steps.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd April 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

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