Good Law Project to sue Virgin Active over 'transphobic rules'

Campaigners and legal advocates have launched a major lawsuit against national gym chain Virgin Active, accusing the company of unlawful discrimination after it introduced transphobic bathroom and changing-room policies that bar trans people from using facilities that match their gender identity. 

The legal action was announced on 15 January by Good Law Project, the UK advocacy organisation that uses strategic litigation to confront hate and advance equality. The case is being brought on behalf of two Virgin Active members, both of whom say they have been directly harmed by the policy changes. 

According to the lawsuit, the gym’s updated rules - which require customers to use changing rooms and bathrooms based on “biological sex” rather than gender identity - have forced the claimants to avoid facilities such as pools and saunas entirely, or dramatically reduce their gym attendance out of fear of harassment and mistreatment. One claimant reports being “extremely distressed” after staff disclosed their trans status without consent. 

Good Law Project argues that Virgin Active’s policy change isn’t legally required by UK equality law and instead reflects a misreading of recent court decisions. The group says the company chose to cave to trans-exclusionary pressure rather than uphold trans inclusivity. 

Virgin Active’s move followed threats of legal action in 2025 from GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry and gender-critical campaigners, who argued that inclusive facilities violated the Equality Act. Virgin Active subsequently scrapped its previously welcoming policy. 

In campaigning around the case, Good Law Project has urged the public to pressure Virgin Active to “stop following transphobes, follow the law,” pointing out that thousands have signed petitions calling for the company to uphold inclusive access.