JK Rowling has continued to celebrate the UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex rather than acquired gender.
The Harry Potter author praised the decision, which has established that transgender women are not legally women under the Act.
The ruling, delivered yesterday, was unanimous amongst the five judges of Britain’s highest court.
It marks the end of a years-long legal battle brought by campaign group For Women Scotland against the Scottish Government over the definition of “woman”.
Campaigners celebrated Wednesday’s ruling outside the Supreme CourtPA
Rowling described the ruling as having “protected the rights of women and girls across the UK” shortly after it was announced, but late last night, she couldn’t resist rubbing salt in the wounds of its opponents further.
The author first took to social media platform X to express her support for the ruling, writing: “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.”
She then further revelled in the decision with a rare photo of herself, in which she can be seen smoking a cigar and enjoying a cocktail while on a boat.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” the author remarked. The post has received a little under eight million views since it was published late on Wednesday night.
JK Rowling has been a vocal supporter of biological women’s rightsGETTY
In regards to the ruling, Lord Hodge delivered the landmark judgment, stating: “The unanimous decision of this court is that the definition of the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.”
The court’s 88-page ruling added that “the concept of sex is binary under the Equality Act 2010.”
The case centred on whether transgender people with a Gender Recognition Certificate should be legally defined as their acquired gender.
For Women Scotland had argued that transgender people should be defined based on biological sex, not gender identity.
I love it when a plan comes together.#SupremeCourt #WomensRights pic.twitter.com/agOkWmhPgb
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025
The Scottish Government had contended that transgender women with certificates should be legally defined as female.
Rowling’s comments were met with widespread attention given her prominent stance on women’s rights issues.
Rowling has been a vocal defender of sex-based rights and has previously faced criticism for her views on transgender issues.
The author confirmed she had financially supported For Women Scotland’s legal efforts, having donated to their crowdfunding campaign. She reportedly contributed £70,000 to back the group’s work.
The Supreme Court clarified that the ruling “does not remove protection from trans people” under the Equality Act.
Transgender individuals remain protected from discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment.
Lord Hodge emphasised: “We counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another.”
He added that statutory protections remain available to transgender people regardless of whether they possess a Gender Recognition Certificate.
The fact that so many UK trans activists are shrieking about injustice says it all. You never had the rights you claim you’ve now lost; you had demands. Your sense of entitlement grew unchecked because cowards and idiots bowed down to your campaign of intimidation. No longer. 2/2
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025
The court noted that the Equality Act provides protection against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment for transgender individuals.
The ruling primarily affects how single-sex spaces and services can be legally defined and operated.
A government spokesperson welcomed the ruling, saying it “brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch declared the ruling “a victory for common sense”, adding: “The era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end.”
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the body would rewrite its code of practice in light of the judgment.
LGBT+ groups expressed concern, with Stonewall calling the ruling “incredibly worrying” for the transgender community.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said his government “accepts today’s Supreme Court judgement” and would “engage on the implications.”
