Stephen Whittle, a prominent trans rights campaigner, spent Friday trying to calm tensions after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released its updated code of practice. The new guidance confirms that single-sex spaces like toilets and changing rooms should be used based on biological sex, potentially excluding transgender people from facilities that match their lived gender.
Mixed Reactions to the Updated Code
Whittle, who led the campaign for gender recognition in the 1990s, was at the Chelsea Flower Show when the code was published. He emphasized that he has used male facilities for 50 years and urged calm, stating, 'Stay cool; we'll get through this.' The code follows a Supreme Court ruling on biological sex in April 2025, leaving many in the LGBTQ+ community and businesses seeking practical guidance.
Gender-Critical Groups Welcome the Update
Gender-critical groups, which have campaigned for the exclusion of trans women from women-only services, welcomed the code as a consolidation of their court victory. However, others expressed disappointment and concern.
Trans Individuals Share Their Struggles
Blake, a data analyst near Liverpool, described watching the news as 'kind of humiliating,' noting that the focus on bathroom access reduces broader issues like healthcare access. Katie Russell, CEO of Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds, said the code was not 'super-clear' on trans inclusion but her service continues to support trans women and non-binary clients, who make up a tiny percentage of their clients.
Businesses and Service Providers Respond
Many businesses are still reviewing the 340-page code. Lush cosmetics called it 'a significant setback for human rights,' arguing it puts frontline staff in the position of policing gender. Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality was cautiously optimistic, praising the clarification that gender-neutral toilets are acceptable.
Impact on Healthcare and Daily Life
Alice, an anaesthetist in England, has been coordinating gender-neutral facilities at her hospital but faces challenges due to the building's age. She is considering leaving the UK, saying, 'It's been made abundantly clear that I'm not welcome.' The code has prompted many transgender individuals to plan moves abroad, citing a feeling of being second-class citizens.
The EHRC's updated code of practice has thus elicited a spectrum of responses, from relief among gender-critical groups to distress and practical concerns among trans individuals and inclusive businesses.
