Our response to the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act

You might have seen the recent Supreme Court ruling about how the word woman is defined in the Equality Act 2010. Right now, it’s unclear exactly what this means in practice, for universities or for students. But we’re watching developments closely.

What we do know is this: every student deserves respect, safety and inclusion, whatever your gender identity. And that’s not up for debate.

At UWLSU, we stand with our trans, non-binary and gender-diverse students. We know rulings like this can feel unsettling or even frightening, and we’re here to support you. We’ll always speak up for a university environment where you feel safe, seen and valued.

We’re actively working with student reps, LGBTQ+ students and other Students’ Unions across the country to understand the impact of this ruling and what it could mean for you. We’ll feed your voices into how we respond and what we campaign for.

We’ll also keep pressing for guidance that upholds the rights and dignity of trans people on campus and beyond. This is part of our wider commitment to equity and justice for all students.

If you’re affected by this news or just want to talk, please reach out. You can:

• Contact the Student Hub for mental health and wellbeing support.

• Get in touch with our free, confidential SU Advice Service.

• Visit LGBT Foundation for helplines and support resources.

• Report bullying, harassment or discrimination to studentwelfare@uwl.ac.uk this behaviour has no place here.

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more. In the meantime, know that we’ve got your back.