Domestic abuse charity opts to shut door on trans women
A leading domestic abuse charity has announced that it will no longer allow transgender women or men who identify as non-binary to access its services.
Edinburgh Women’s Aid said that while it recognised people hold “differing views” on sex and gender, it had decided as an organisation to set out “specific positions” on the issue with regard to its service provision and employment.
It means trans women or men identifying as non-binary will be unable to access its adult group support services or its shared refuge spaces, even if they hold a gender recognition certificate (GRC).
The changes also mean that the charity will no longer hire trans women or men who have transitioned to non-binary, including those with GRCs.
The significant development, announced on the charity’s website, puts it at odds with the nationwide umbrella body, Scottish Women’s Aid, which has long said that its services are “trans inclusive”.
The statement on the Edinburgh Women’s Aid website cites a number of exemptions under the Equality Act 2010 underpinning the decision to exclude members of the trans community.
It explained: “We recognise that there are differing views on sex and gender, which are protected by the Equality Act 2010.
“We also respect there is a broad range of beliefs on these topics within our staff, board and the women we support.
“We recognise the rights of women to hold and express differing beliefs in society. However, as an organisation we do hold specific positions in regard to our service provision and employment.
“In terms of our service provision, Edinburgh Women’s Aid applies Schedule 3 (Part 7) of the Equality Act 2010, which contains a number of exceptions to the general provisions on nondiscrimination, including that a trans person can be excluded from single sex services when it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
“Therefore, we lawfully exclude transgender women and males who have transitioned to non-binary (including those with a GRC) in our adult groupwork services and in our shared refuge spaces, including our 24-hr refuge.”
The charity noted in the statement that “legal provisions can change” and that it would regularly review its position and practice accordingly.