Demonstrators congregate outside Holyrood, demanding Scottish administration to intervene following the Supreme Court's decision on gender issues
The Scottish government has announced plans to consult on the stop and search code of practice in collaboration with Police Scotland before the end of the year. This move comes as the government engages with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and awaits an updated code of practice.
In a recent statement, Alba Party MSP Ash Regan revealed that the EHRC had advised the government not to delay action. The Scottish government has already taken steps to address transgender issues, including updating gender representation guidance on public boards and amending the public appointments recruitment process.
However, there is ongoing confusion across various public bodies, including schools, prisons, the NHS, and local authorities, regarding transgender issues. To address this, the Scottish government is undertaking legal work to put in place the provisions required by a Supreme Court case.
The Scottish government has accepted a court judgment regarding the admission of transgender women into women's prisons. Yet, no specific updates have been provided regarding the reform to hold a vote on transgender prisoners.
In education, the Scottish government is committed to ensuring that the guidance for supporting transgender young people in schools is fit for purpose. Despite the UK Supreme Court's April 2025 ruling, the Scottish government has not yet updated the guidelines for transgender students in schools or for managing transgender persons in prisons. The court decided that "woman" and "sex" in legal texts must be defined based on biological sex at birth rather than gender identity. Implementing this ruling requires reconciling existing equality laws and policies, which likely involves complex legal and policy considerations still in progress.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney mentioned that the Scottish government continues to engage with the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The government's efforts to address transgender issues are part of a broader commitment to promoting equality and human rights.
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