UK Ofcom Says Trans Views Must Still Be Aired Despite Supreme Court Ruling

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Ofcom Says Trans Views Must Still Be Aired Despite Supreme Court Ruling

 

UK broadcasters must continue to give airtime to the belief that trans women are women, regardless of a recent Supreme Court ruling that defined the term "woman" in law as meaning a biological female. In a letter seen by The Telegraph, media regulator Ofcom clarified that the ruling does not settle the wider social and editorial debate surrounding gender identity, nor does it free broadcasters from the obligation to reflect opposing views.

 

The controversy stems from a landmark judgment handed down in April 2025, in which the Supreme Court determined that, under the Equality Act, the legal term “woman” refers specifically to a biological woman. The ruling was hailed by women’s rights campaigners as a definitive legal victory in their efforts to protect female-only spaces.

 

However, Ofcom has now warned GB News—a broadcaster that has publicly aligned itself with the biological definition—that this legal decision does not mean broadcasters can disregard alternative views. “The judgment does not purport to do so,” Ofcom said, responding to GB News’s request for confirmation that the matter was now settled across all contexts.

 

In its letter to the regulator, GB News asked for clarification on whether broadcasters could now treat “woman,” “man,” and “sex” as terms strictly defined by biology, and whether this meant referring to people only by their biological pronouns. The network argued that contributors should generally be free to use such language, provided there was no “deliberate intention to cause harm or offence.”

 

Ofcom, however, rejected what it called GB News’s “dogmatic propositions,” and insisted that the Supreme Court ruling applies only to the specific context of the Equality Act. “We do not consider that it is helpful or appropriate to endorse the dogmatic propositions made by GB News,” the letter stated, explaining that it does not follow that the ruling “effectively ‘settled’ wider debate about the appropriate meaning, usage and effect of such terms in all contexts.”

 

Instead, the regulator reaffirmed its stance that discussions around sex and gender must be approached with editorial balance and a respect for freedom of expression. Broadcasters, it said, retain editorial discretion but must exercise it in line with the Broadcasting Code, which requires due impartiality on controversial issues.

 

“Our assessment will of course also take account of all applicable Convention rights, including the broadcaster’s and audience’s rights to freedom of expression,” the letter continued, stressing that editorial choices on such issues “require nuanced decision-making.”

 

Ofcom drew a comparison to its position on climate change, where it considers the scientific consensus settled and does not require opposing views to be presented. But in the case of gender identity, the regulator said the debate remains open and must be treated accordingly in broadcast coverage.

 

A spokesman for Ofcom reiterated the regulator’s role: “Ofcom is a post-broadcast regulator. In line with the rights of broadcasters and audiences to freedom of expression, our rules allow broadcasters editorial freedom to choose how to cover issues in their programmes subject to the Broadcasting Code.”

 

He added: “Our assessment of whether content complies with the Broadcasting Code is always fact-specific and takes into account all relevant contextual factors, requiring nuanced decision-making, and not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

GB News has been approached for comment.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-07-01

 

 

[JonnyF]

Ofcom has become an extreme leftist organization, pushing the trans agenda and climate alarmism.

 

It needs to be disbanded and a new regulator built with some sane leadership.  

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Ofcom has become an extreme leftist organization, pushing the trans agenda and climate alarmism.

 

It needs to be disbanded and a new regulator built with some sane leadership.  

All of a sudden you want Ofcom to ban views you don’t like hearing.

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

All of a sudden you want Ofcom to ban views you don’t like hearing.

 

 

Who said that?

 

A regulator should be politically neutral. I want Ofcom to act fairly and equally, irrespective of whether the views are left or right wing.

 

They have proved incapable of doing so. 

 

 

[spidermike007]

Trans people should have rights, but they should not be referred to as women because they are not women. Perhaps they should be referred to as people who identify as a woman, or people who want to be a woman, or people who are sorry they weren't born as a woman, but they are not biological females, so let's just stop the nonsense already. 

 

They already take up way too much discussion in the public arena, relative to the numbers that they represent, which are probably a tiny fraction of 1%. 

 

PC weakens society. Period. Woke culture is weakness. 

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

Trans people should have rights, but they should not be referred to as women because they are not women. Perhaps they should be referred to as people who identify as a woman, or people who want to be a woman, or people who are sorry they weren't born as a woman, but they are not biological females, so let's just stop the nonsense already. 

 

They already take up way too much discussion in the public arena, relative to the numbers that they represent, which are probably a tiny fraction of 1%. 

 

PC weakens society. Period. Woke culture is weakness. 

The Dems talk about them daily

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Who said that?

 

A regulator should be politically neutral. I want Ofcom to act fairly and equally, irrespective of whether the views are left or right wing.

 

They have proved incapable of doing so. 

 

 

Trans people exist, they have views, allowing them to express their views is not political, it’s simply not denying them the rights others enjoy.

[Watawattana]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trans people exist, they have views, allowing them to express their views is not political, it’s simply not denying the. The rights others enjoy.

Totally agree, and I've no problem with them being aired.  I don't want anyone to be sidelined for any reason, other than illegality (e.g. terrorists).  But trans women are not women.  Being referred to as "identifying as a woman", or "a trans woman" is okay with me.

[proton]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trans people exist, they have views, allowing them to express their views is not political, it’s simply not denying the. The rights others enjoy.

 

No they don't changing gender is impossible, they are just fantasists or mentally ill. They have the same rights as sane people.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

 

No they don't changing gender is impossible, they are just fantasists or mentally ill. They have the same rights as sane people.

So if trans people don’t exist why do you lay in bed feverishly thinking about them?

[Hamus Yaigh]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Ofcom has become an extreme leftist organization, pushing the trans agenda and climate alarmism.

 

It needs to be disbanded and a new regulator built with some sane leadershi

This opinion appears misguided and overly simplistic. Ofcom’s role as a regulator is to enforce broadcasting standards, including impartiality, as mandated by UK law. The letter to GB News clarifies that the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of “woman” under the Equality Act doesn’t override the broader societal debate on gender identity or exempt broadcasters from reflecting diverse views. This aligns with Ofcom’s statutory duty to ensure balanced coverage, not to push any specific agenda.

 

Labeling Ofcom as “extreme leftist” or accusing it of “pushing the trans agenda” ignores the regulator’s legal obligation to uphold impartiality across contentious issues, including gender identity and climate change. The call for disbandment seems to stem from frustration with Ofcom’s enforcement of this balance, which you but not everyone disagree with. However, there’s no evidence in the provided context that Ofcom is acting outside its remit or promoting ideological agendas.

 

Your criticism oversimplifies a complex regulatory role and dismisses the legal framework Ofcom operates within.

[Chomper Higgot]

9 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Totally agree, and I've no problem with them being aired.  I don't want anyone to be sidelined for any reason, other than illegality (e.g. terrorists).  But trans women are not women.  Being referred to as "identifying as a woman", or "a trans woman" is okay with me.

I’ve only ever referred to ‘trans women’ as ‘trans women’ it do wonder why the rightwing are so fixated on ‘trans women’ while almost completely ignoring ‘trans men’.

 

Perhaps they feel personally threatened by ‘trans women’.

[Watawattana]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’ve only ever referred to ‘trans women’ as ‘trans women’ it do wonder why the rightwing are si fixated on ‘trans women’ while almost completely ignoring ‘trans men’.

 

Perhaps they feel personally threatened by ‘trans women’.

Yeah, the OP only mentions women which is why I stuck to that.  You make a good point.

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Yeah, the OP only mentions women which is why I stuck to that.  You make a good point.

The OP is based on an article from the rightwing press.

 

Which kind of demonstrates my point, don’t you think?

[frank83628]

Sothe supreme court ruling means nothing. So can anyone just ignore court ruling now then?  

[JonnyF]

30 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trans people exist, they have views, allowing them to express their views is not political, it’s simply not denying them the rights others enjoy.

 

As long as their views are presented correctly I have no issue.

 

For example, "Now let's hear from Dave, the man from Cardiff who likes to dress like a woman and thinks women can have a penis and that men can give birth".

 

The frequency of their views being aired should also be proportional to their representation in society i.e. less than 1% of air time should be spent on them.

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Sothe supreme court ruling means nothing. So can anyone just ignore court ruling now then?  

Can you point out the bit in the court ruling that states trans views shall not be broadcast?

[JonnyF]

18 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’ve only ever referred to ‘trans women’ as ‘trans women’ it do wonder why the rightwing are so fixated on ‘trans women’ while almost completely ignoring ‘trans men’.

 

The blokes (or trans women as you like to call them) tend to make much more noise/disruption than the women (or trans men as you like to call them).

 

For example, the women (or trans men as you refer to them) rarely demand to compete against men in sports. They rarely rape women in public toilets. 

 

The squeaky wheel gets the oil. 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

As long as their views are presented correctly I have no issue.

 

For example, "Now let's hear from Dave, the man from Cardiff who likes to dress like a woman and thinks women can have a penis and that men can give birth".

 

The frequency of their views being aired should also be proportional to their representation in society i.e. less than 1% of air time should be spent on them.

And who gets to determine if their views are expressed correctly?

 

Maybe the rightwing should restrict their time ranting about transgender people to your suggested 1%, you keep the matter in proportion. 

 

Don’t to agree?

[riclag]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

Ofcom has become an extreme leftist organization, pushing the trans agenda and climate alarmism.

 

It needs to be disbanded and a new regulator built with some sane leadership.  

Any organization that supports a small group of individuals that perform like circus clowns , court jesters , useful village idiots  must appropriately be labeled the enemy of the people!

UK Supreme Court ruled woman are 

woman , OfCom is manipulating the

ruling so they can give representation 

to the malcontents.

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

The blokes (or trans women as you like to call them) tend to make much more noise/disruption than the women (or trans men as you like to call them).

 

For example, the women (or trans men as you refer to them) rarely demand to compete against men in sports. They rarely rape women in public toilets. 

 

The squeaky wheel gets the oil. 

 

Well I would agree few blokes on this forum make more noise about transgender people than you Jonny.

 

I say live and let live , don’t you agree?

[JonnyF]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

And who gets to determine if their views are expressed correctly?

 

I said they should be presented correctly. i.e. as a bloke who likes to dress up as a woman.

 

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Maybe the rightwing should restrict their time ranting about transgender people to your suggested 1%, you keep the matter in proportion. 

 

If they occupied less than 1% of airtime, the commenting on them would reduce to a similar level.

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, riclag said:

Any organization that supports a small group of individuals that perform like circus clowns , court jesters , useful village idiots  must appropriately be labeled the enemy of the people!

UK Supreme Court ruled woman are 

woman , OfCom is manipulating the

ruling so they can give representation 

to the malcontents.

Ofcom have done no such thing.

 

The Supreme Court did not rule transgender people don’t exist, which would be in any case counter factual.

 

Transgender people do exist, they have views and the right to express their views.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I said they should be presented correctly. i.e. as a bloke who likes to dress up as a woman.

 

 

If they occupied less than 1% of airtime, the commenting on them would reduce to a similar level.

Once again demonstrating the rightwing fixation with transgender women while ignoring transgender men.

 

Its a thing.

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Well I would agree few blokes on this forum make more noise about transgender people than you Jonny.

 

You being one of them (allegedly 😉).

 

 

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

I say live and let live , don’t you agree?

 

Absolutely. I have no problem with blokes wearing dresses if that's what does it for them. As long as they stay out of women's sport, women's toilets/changing rooms and women's prisons then they can wear a pink girraffe costume for all I care.

 

I will continue to refuse to pretend they are women though. 

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Once again demonstrating the rightwing fixation with transgender women while ignoring transgender men.

 

Its a thing.

 

Probably because it's the blokes doing most of the raping. 

[Bkk Brian]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Once again demonstrating the rightwing fixation with transgender women while ignoring transgender men.

 

Its a thing.

10 posts on the topic already. More than anyone else and you accuse the right wing of having a fixation with transgender women......lol

 

Projection is real

[JonnyF]

39 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So if trans people don’t exist why do you lay in bed feverishly thinking about them?

 

Is this really your best argument against the point that he was making?

 

Essentially...  "You're gay".

 

Is that the best you've got Chomps? 😃

[Dionigi]

Anyone can believe in Father Christmas, it is only a problem when they demand I believe also.

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Is this really your best argument against the point that he was making?

 

Essentially...  "You're gay".

 

Is that the best you've got Chomps? 😃

Who said anything about being gay?

 

Oh you did.