By Sophie Molly
On the UK Parliament website it states that members of the public accessing toilets and changing rooms in the Palace of Westminster must now use facilities that correspond to their ‘Biological Sex or the gender-neutral toilets.’
This will likely prove problematic and stressful for the trans people and allies attending a mass Lobby of MPs inside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Westminster is the second UK Parliament to implement a trans toilet ban. The Scottish Parliament announced a similar ban back on the 9th of May.
These toilet bans come in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling and EHRC Interim Guidance. The ruling states that for the purpose of the Equality Act 2010 women are defined by their ‘biological sex’ and not their gender identity. The EHRC is currently running a public consultation on their updated guidance. The deadline for people to respond is the 30th of June.
The change in policy follows a trans barrister using a female bathroom in Westminster last week.
Barrister Robin Moira White was accosted by a group of anti-trans activists outside a toilet in Portcullis House. Westminster swiftly issued an apology for Ms. White using the facilities.
Ms. White said she was shouted at by Kate Harris [LGB Alliance] and Heather Binning [Women’s Rights Network].
Harris has since denied shouting at Ms. White.
A trans woman named Clara thinks it’s ‘disgusting that they [Westminster] have caved in to transphobic hate groups.’
Heather Herbert, a trans woman who previously stood to be an MP for the Labour Party in the 2019 General Election, believes the ban ‘isn’t about following the law or advice; it’s about actively excluding trans and GNC [gender non-conforming] people from public life.’
She thinks Keir Starmer is ‘becoming a pound shop Trump.’
Human rights activist Steph Richards says Trans women are ‘being treated like animals’. Despite them ‘undertaking the most difficult journey in humanity.’
The ban is yet another blow for the UK trans community, who have seen companies like Barclays implement trans toilet bans and British Transport Police officers able to strip-search trans women. The question of how the ban will be implemented/enforced remains to be answered by Westminster.
About the Author
Sophie Molly is a dedicated political activist and intersectional feminist committed to advancing policies that promote inclusivity and equality. Sophie’s work emphasizes the importance of recognizing interconnected forms of oppression and advocating for comprehensive solutions that benefit all individuals, regardless of gender identity.
