JK Rowling Applauds UK Court Ruling Defining Women as Biological Females
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has publicly celebrated a landmark ruling by the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court that defines “woman” under the Equality Act as referring strictly to biological females.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, April 16, sided with the campaign group For Women Scotland after a lengthy legal battle with the Scottish Government. A panel of five justices declared that the Equality Act 2010 uses the term “woman” in reference to biological sex, not gender identity, criticizing Scottish ministers for promoting an “incoherent” interpretation that could undermine women’s rights.
In response, Rowling praised the campaigners, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. For Women Scotland, I’m so proud to know you.”
The Supreme Court’s 88-page judgment, delivered by judges including Lord Hodge and Lady Rose, emphasized that “the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 makes clear that the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man.”
Lord Hodge clarified that while the court recognized biological sex as the legal basis for the term “woman,” protections against discrimination for trans people remain intact under the law.
The case marks a significant moment in the broader national debate over gender identity and women’s rights, a discourse that gained widespread attention in 2020 when Rowling spoke out against replacing “biological sex” with “gender identity.” Her statements led to backlash and threats but also positioned her as a leading voice in the gender-critical movement.
Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland, hailed the ruling as a major win:
“It’s absolutely a victory for women’s rights. This case was always about women, never about trans rights, who—as Judge Hodge confirmed—are still fully protected in law. But now we have clarity over what a woman means in law.”
