JK Rowling has taken to social media to issue a statement following the Supreme Court’s ruling over what defines a “woman” in law.
Concerns from campaigners have been rife for years that women’s rights had been watered down to appease trans activists.
And on Wednesday, Britain’s top judges unanimously agreed the terms “woman” and “sex” in gender legislation will solely refer to a biological woman and biological sex.
The ruling has been celebrated by numerous biological women’s rights advocates, particularly For Women Scotland who spearheaded the calls for the courts to make the ruling.
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. @ForWomenScot, I’m so proud to know you 🏴💜🏴💚🏴🤍🏴 https://t.co/JEvcScVVGS
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025
The likes of Sharron Davies, Duncan Bannatyne, Graham Linehan and many other famous faces have also spoken out to laud the ruling.
Now, Rowling has followed suit after years of being a vocal supporter of biological women’s rights and same-sex spaces.
Rowling paid particular tribute to the campaigners at For Women Scotland who were pivotal in pushing the courts to make a decision on the definition of a woman.
Rowling penned: “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.
JK Rowling has spoken out on the trans debate for years GETTY
“@ForWomenScot, I’m so proud to know you,” Rowling signed off.
The director of For Women Scotland – the campaign group which challenged the Scottish legislation – branded the decision a “victory” for women as applause and cheers erupted from its supporters following the ruling.
Trina Budge said the “case was always about women’s rights… never about trans rights,” adding to Sky News: “It’s absolutely a victory for women’s rights.”
In an 88-page-long judgment, Lord Hodge, Lady Rose and Lady Simler explained that while the word “biological” does not appear in the definition of man or woman in equality legislation, “the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman”.
Speaking in the Supreme Court, Lord Hodge insisted it was merely “our role to ascertain the meaning of the legislation which parliament has enacted to that end.”
He added: “The central question on this appeal is the meaning of the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010.
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas#WeKnowWhatAWomanIs #SupremeCourt
— For Women Scotland (@ForWomenScot) April 16, 2025
“Do those terms refer to biological women or biological sex? Or is a woman to be interpreted as extending to a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate?
“The terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.”
Meanwhile, while Sir Keir Starmer is yet to publicly address the ruling, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has openly welcomed the ruling.
Taking to X, she reacted to the news by writing: “Saying ‘trans women are women’ was never true in fact and now isn’t true in law, either.
JK Rowling has been accused of being transphobic as a result of her campaigning for women’s rightsGETTY
“A victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious.
“Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex.
“The era of Keir Starmer telling us that some women have penises has come to an end. Hallelujah! Well done @ForWomenScot!” (sic)
