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ARGENTINA

The socialist Prime Minister of the United Kingdom doesn't recognize transgender individuals as women.

Following the ruling made by the British Supreme Court last week, Keir Starmer decided to follow the line of the highest court

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, has declared, through his official spokesperson, that he no longer considers "trans women" to be women, aligning with a recent Supreme Court ruling.

This decision marks a significant shift from his previous statements. In 2022, when he was the leader of the opposition, Starmer stated that "a woman is an adult female, and moreover, trans women are women," a stance he claimed was supported by law.

However, the recent Supreme Court ruling clarified that, in the context of the Equality Act, the term "woman" refers exclusively to biological women.

This implies that individuals who were born male and identify as women do not have an automatic right to access spaces or services designated exclusively for women, such as shelters, bathrooms, or changing rooms. The Downing Street spokesperson emphasized that this interpretation is now clear and supported by the judiciary.

El primer ministro socialista de Reino Unido desconoce a los transexuales como mujeres

The Education Minister, Bridget Phillipson, welcomed this "added clarity," and stated that the government will work to protect single-sex spaces based on biological sex.

She also confirmed that, in single-sex facilities, a transgender person who perceives themselves as a woman should use the male bathroom, although she noted that many businesses already offer unisex options or individual cubicles to preserve the dignity and privacy of all individuals.

This change has sparked mixed reactions both within and outside the Labor Party. Kemi Badenoch, a conservative leader and frequent critic of the Labor stance on gender identity issues, accused the government of making a U-turn, saying they only accepted this stance after the court told them what to think. She stated: "We know what a woman is, we don't need the Supreme Court to tell us."

A person speaking at a podium with a microphone, wearing a blue blouse.
The Conservative Party leader Badenoch criticized Starmer's change of thinking just because of the court ruling | La Derecha Diario

Meanwhile, several figures from the Labor Party expressed concern about the impact of the ruling on the transgender community. Emily Thornberry noted that calls to LGBT helplines have surged since the ruling. 

Nadia Whittome pointed out that forcing trans individuals to use bathrooms that do not align with their gender identity can endanger their safety and well-being. However, this measure offers reassurance to decent people, who have expressed concern about trans individuals using women's bathrooms, primarily minors. 

Christine Jardine, equality spokesperson for the "Liberal Democrats," warned about what she considers negative effects of the ruling on the human rights of the social group. Sarah Owen, chair of the parliamentary Equality committee, criticized that the judges decided without consulting "trans people," and obtained a commitment from the government to involve "trans actors" in the development of future guidelines.

A woman in a yellow coat with a yellow ribbon on her chest is touching her ear while looking up.
Starmer's remarks caused significant criticism within the Labour Party | La Derecha Diario

Despite the rhetorical shift, some previous Labor policies remain unchanged, at least for now. The party's election manifesto includes commitments to ban conversion practices that do not exclude trans individuals and reform the gender recognition law.

Keir Starmer defended the ruling as a "welcome clarity" in an area that needed legal definition. He reiterated that "a woman is an adult female," and that the Supreme Court ruling has established this definitively. For Starmer, the next step is to ensure that all official regulations and guidelines align with this legal interpretation.

➡️ Argentina

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