The Labour Party in the United Kingdom will not permit transgender women – biological men who identify as women – to attend the main events of its women’s conference next year.
The conference as ton be held this year but was postponed after activists demanded that it be limited to biological women, with organisers fearing legal action over the matter.
In terms of the arrangements for the conference, transgender women will be excluded from participating in debates of to vote. They will, however, be allowed to attend events held on the periphery of the conference.
This decision followed the UK Supreme Court’s ruling in April that the Equality Act was intended to protect biological women, rather than biological men who identified as women. “Sex” in the act was held to refer to biological sex.
A number of organisations have revised their policies regarding gender and sex to conform to the ruling.
Until last year, the Labour women’s conference was held before the start of the main party conference and was open to the participation of all people who identified as women. Last week, the party’s executive decided that the conference would be held in terms of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The ruling was welcomed by “gender critical” Labour activists such as Labour Women’s Declaration.
Transgender activists in the Labour party condemned the decision. Labour for Trans Rights – a lobby group within the party – said: “Trans members are being cut out of the democratic processes of the Labour Party when many have given years of service, knocking doors and standing as candidates.”
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