Reform says some services in Worcestershire should only be for ‘biological women’
A trans campaigner from Worcester says the idea is exclusionary and harmful
Reform councillors want only “biological women” to have access to certain services in Worcestershire.
A motion calling for the county council to limit access to “single-sex facilities and services for women” is set to be debated at a full council meeting on Thursday (January 15).
A trans campaigner from Worcester says the idea is exclusionary and harmful.
The motion called ‘Protecting single-sex spaces for women’ has been put forward by four Reform councillors, including three cabinet members – Jenny Shaw, Satinder Bell, Justin Bowen and Sue Eacock.
Councillors Bell, Bowen and Eacock are the cabinet members for health, children and families, and adult social care respectively.
They reference a UK Supreme Court decision made last year, in which judges said the terms ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ as used in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.
The ruling was criticised by LGBTQ groups and politicians, who felt it could impact on transgender rights.
The motion goes on to say: “This council also recognises that to act in accordance with this ruling, Worcestershire County Council must ensure access to its single-sex facilities and services for women is reserved exclusively for biological women.
“This council resolves to confirm, through the relevant cabinet member, that Worcestershire County Council is compliant with the Equality Act 2010 in respect of access to its single-sex facilities and services for women.”
The motion makes no mention of what specific services would be reserved “exclusively for biological women” or how this rule would be enforced.
Melissa Poulton, a campaigner and former Green Party parliamentary candidate, said: “The motion doesn’t just exclude trans people from services that they might never need.
“This motion harms cisgendered women (people whose identity matches what they were assigned at birth).
“Cis women are being harassed out of services because they don’t look feminine enough. Women are being policed based on what they look like.
“Yet again, this motion excludes trans men, non-binary people and girls. This motion excludes them from accessing services that they need.
“If councillors really want to support women, they would look at tackling equal pay, access to healthcare, safety from violence, education and opportunity to improve their lives and basic bodily autonomy.
“Banning trans women from their services doesn’t achieve that. Women are being targeted by a small group of women who are well funded by billionaires. When will people start standing up to them?”