JK Rowling has spoken out following a United Kingdom Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.
The Harry Potter author expressed she was “so proud” of the “tenacious Scottish women” who brought the case to court.
On April 16, a panel of five judges ruled in favor of the resolute campaign group For Women Scotland, and against the Scottish Government, stating a “woman” in the Equality Act referred to a “biological woman and biological sex”.
They also criticized SNP ministers for promoting an “incoherent” interpretation that would undermine women’s rights.
The decision caps a three-year struggle by feminist campaigners who maintained that a woman should be defined solely as those born female, excluding trans women.
After the ruling, Rowling posted on X, writing: “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.”
In an 88-page judgment, Supreme Court judges Lord Hodge, Lady Rose, and Lady Simler concluded 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 emphasized it was the unanimous view of the court that “the definition of the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.
The leading judge clarified that the Act continues to provide protection from discrimination for trans individuals.
The controversy surrounding trans rights and women’s spaces has been escalating for years, with significant legal battles and prominent figures fueling a nationwide pushback against extreme woke perspectives on gender.
The issue gained significant attention in 2020 when national icon JK Rowling condemned the increasing tendency to replace “biological sex” with “gender identity,” provoking backlash from the trans lobby.
Ms Rowling’s unyielding position – asserting that “sex is real” – led to death threats, yet also established her as a leading voice for the “gender-critical” movement.
Celebrating the groundbreaking ruling, Trina Budge, director of For Women Scotland, declared: “It’s absolutely a victory for women’s rights.
“This case was always about women, never about trans rights who, as Judge Hodge said, are fully protected in law still, but now we have clarity over what a woman means in law.”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”