Dr Victoria McCloud, the UK's only judge to publicly identify as trans, fears Supreme Court's anti-trans ruling could put lives at risk
Dr Victoria McCloud, the UK's only judge to publicly identify as trans, has expressed deep concerns over the Supreme Court's anti-trans ruling that defines a woman by biological sex under equalities law. She fears the ruling could put lives at risk and has announced plans to challenge the government at the European Court of Human Rights.
The ruling led to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issuing interim guidance on access to public facilities, including toilets and changing rooms. Dr McCloud argues that the policy forces her into unsafe situations, such as using men's restrooms in pubs, which she believes could lead to violence.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer subsequently said the ruling gave "much-needed clarity" for those drawing up guidance.
"We need to move and make sure that we now ensure that all guidance is in the right place according to that judgement.
"A woman is an adult female, and the court has made that absolutely clear."
Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg on Newscast, Dr McCloud said: "This incident is putting lives at risk. I can't go out to the pub now, for example. It might not be the be all and end all of life but I am a lawyer.
"I've got to use the men's loos in a south London pub with a bunch of blokes who are drunk. I mean, come on. That's now government policy. Someone's going to get killed."
Dr McCloud, who now resides in Ireland, contends that the Supreme Court failed to hear directly from trans individuals before making its decision, violating human rights. She plans to challenge the ruling at the ECHR, arguing that trans voices were excluded from the legal process.
