On 2 May 2025 The Church Times published an analysis of the Supreme Court Ruling on gender: ‘Analysis: ‘Women’ Defined – within limits’. We wrote to the editor with the following response which was not published by the Church Times:
Dear Editor,
Nicholas Reed Langen’s analysis of the Supreme Court’s April ruling on the definition of ‘woman’ in the Equality Act 2010 aligns with narratives from many Christian voices lamenting the decision as harmful to trans people.
However, the ruling is neither “tragic” nor “a denial of some protections for trans individuals.” The Court clarified that trans people remain protected against discrimination, as do others with protected characteristics, and explicitly stated the decision was not a victory for one side or a defeat for another. It also, for instance, pays no regard to the extremely precarious life prospects inflicted on those now seeking to detransition and who were never properly prepared for the often fateful consequences of transitioning. This is a medical scandal awaiting to erupt and deserves far more awareness in the broader debate.
The article’s dominant focus on men who view themselves as female (transwomen) overlooks the relief this ruling brought to many women, particularly lesbians, and gay men who prioritise sex-based rights. Such framing risks fostering a sense of victimhood among trans people and underscores the need for distinct representation of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals within the Church.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Mark Chater
Canon Mark Bratton
Rev Lorenzo Fernando-Smal
Dr Sarah Rutherford
Sarah Mapstone
LGB Christians, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX