NHS trans changing-room case backed by anti-LGBTQ+ group 'Christian Legal Centre'

An employment tribunal involving a group of nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital is set to begin this week, challenging NHS policies that support trans inclusion in workplace facilities. The case, which has drawn national attention, is being backed by the Christian Legal Centre - a group widely criticised for its anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion stance.

At the heart of the dispute is Rose Henderson, a trans woman and NHS employee, who used the women’s changing room in accordance with the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust policy.

The nurses involved in the case allege that sharing the space with Rose constituted sexual harassment and a breach of their privacy rights. However, LGBTQ+ advocates warn that the case is part of a broader campaign to roll back trans rights under the guise of protecting women’s spaces.

The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the nurses, has a history of opposing LGBTQ+ rights, describing homosexuality as a “harmful sexual practice” and advocating for the criminalisation of abortion. Its involvement has raised concerns about the politicisation of workplace disputes and the targeting of trans individuals in public services.

Rose Henderson has not publicly commented, but allies have expressed solidarity with her, noting that trans people in the NHS already face significant barriers, including discrimination, misgendering, and lack of access to gender-affirming care.