New guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has come into force in England, Wales and Scotland, setting out how public facilities and services that are single sex should be organised.

The code, published in June but now in effect, says single-sex spaces open to the public—such as toilets, changing rooms and rape crisis centres—should be arranged according to biological sex where it is proportionate to do so.

It also advises that trans people should use either gender-neutral facilities or the ones that correspond to their biological sex in settings including gym changing rooms and some support services.

The timing follows a UK Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 that clarified the meaning of “sex” in equality law as biological sex rather than the gender a person identifies with.

What The EHRC Code Says

The EHRC code provides practical advice for services, public bodies and associations on how they should interpret the Equality Act 2010.

For facilities such as public toilets and changing rooms, the guidance states that where organisations decide single-sex arrangements are proportionate, access should be limited to people of the same biological sex as the space.

It gives examples of how that approach would apply: a trans woman—described as a person born male who identifies as a woman—should not use women-only facilities, and a trans man should not use men-only facilities.

However, the code also says forcing a transgender person to use services linked to their biological sex could amount to unlawful discrimination in some circumstances. It points to gender-neutral spaces as an alternative where appropriate.

Where The Guidance Applies

The code applies across a range of organisations, from cafes and leisure centres to public toilets, domestic violence shelters and bowls clubs.

It is intended to guide how organisations balance single-sex services with the Equality Act protections for people based on biological sex and those covered by gender reassignment.

Background And Possible Legal Challenges

The EHRC guidance is tied to the legal and political context created by the Supreme Court decision on the definition of “sex”.

The EHRC said the approach reflects tensions between different protected rights under the Equality Act, which have already been at the centre of public debate and litigation.

Legal action over how the code is implemented is expected by different campaign groups. Trans-rights organisations argue the guidance is unworkable, while sex-based rights campaigners say they will seek to challenge any organisations they believe are not following it.

The EHRC’s draft code was sent to Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister, for approval in September 2025. An amendment was made in June this year. Although MPs and members of the House of Lords were given the chance to vote for a debate after the approval, a motion calling for the draft guidelines to be scrapped—signed by 167 MPs—was not debated.

Reaction From Campaigners

Trans-rights campaigners said the code would make trans people less able to access services they need, and that it could leave them feeling unwelcome or unsafe in public spaces.

Gender-critical groups and charities supporting sex-based rights said the guidance is intended to help organisations comply with existing law. Maya Forstater, from Sex Matters, said the law is clear and the code offers practical examples for everyday services.

Some organisations have already adjusted their practices, including the Women’s Institute and Girlguiding, which have previously said membership is for females.

Join the discussion?

5 August 2026

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No northern Ireland? Why leave a gap?

Good.

Keep the blokes in skirts out of women's changing rooms.

Good job you can go to university and study diversity to get to the real bottom of things

Wonder how many professors we have🤔

A diversity studies degree focuses on understanding different cultures, identities, and social issues. Students learn about topics like race, gender, religion, disability, and economic inequality to explore how diversity shapes society.

If your born with a willy your a man.

Now get out of the ladies toilets, pervs.

"Trans-rights campaigners said the code would make trans people less able to access services they need, and that it could leave them feeling unwelcome or unsafe in public spaces."

That is some great sarcasm...right there?

19 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Good.

Keep the blokes in skirts out of women's changing rooms.

Yes, men who think they are women...are still men!

30 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"Trans-rights campaigners said the code would make trans people less able to access services they need, and that it could leave them feeling unwelcome or unsafe in public spaces."

That is some great sarcasm...right there?

What a joke ! The way that I read this is that there will have to be 3 seperate toilets and change rooms now instead of 2 everywhere. Imagine the cost of adding an extra catergory in every public ammenities block , shopping centre , pub ,club , restuarant etc. etc. So you gotta watch out if you are in your local and had a few pints too many make sure you dont go in the OTHERS door if you want to urinate

After reading that I find I am now more confused than ever. Just let me check my meme to see where I fit in.

18 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

how diversity shapes society.

The way I see it... the more we empower minorities the more they want until the minorities dictate to the majority

27 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Yes, men who think they are women...are still men!

I got threatened with a ban for saying that.

18 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Good job you can go to university and study diversity to get to the real bottom of things

Wonder how many professors we have🤔

A diversity studies degree focuses on understanding different cultures, identities, and social issues. Students learn about topics like race, gender, religion, disability, and economic inequality to explore how diversity shapes society.

That would set you up for the unemployment line

Just now, wombat said:

The way I see it... the more we empower minorities the more they want until the minorities dictate to the majority

We are already there.

This used to be in a petrol station parking area near me. Not sure if it's still there - not something I go searching for :)

There's certainly been an outbreak of gender dis at me bowls club lately. We all wear kilts and, when some o' them take a shot, they ain't got much up there, see.

This whole topic should not even need to be considered or have legislation passed on it due to the ludicrous nature of the nonsense level. It's simple, if must be, then create a third uni-restroom for any and all, so everyone can choose without being forced into a difficult situation... especially for women and young girls.

It is just moronic that for some reason a teen girl (or younger even) has to share a restoom with some drag queen freaky dude in a dress with red hair and stuble just because last week he decided that suddenly he was actually a woman... these types should be sectioned and given psychological evaluations and a polygraphy test at the same time. What a load of foul-smelling, freshly-laid, steaming pile of manure.

3 hours ago, Gandtee said:

I got threatened with a ban for saying that.

That was in the bad old days.

Sanity has since prevailed.

I recently attended a show at the theatre. The toilet facilities were gender neutral. One door to enter. Once inside there were rows of cubicles with locking doors.

It was convenient. Women could help their young sons, men could help their young daughters, women, men, gays, lesbians, trans, could all happily get on with what they needed to do without any issues.

Many places already have a gender neutral facility called the Disabled toilet. Gender-confused people can use these and have no need to go into the Ladies Toilet. It is also rather amusing that in some of the Nana go-go bars you can go into the "Mens" toilet for a pee and have a couple of almost naked, or even naked, women standing behind you doing their makeup at the mirror. I don't hear many complaints from the men. 😄

Your gender as recorded on your birth documents determines your legal gender. Use the corresponding toilet facilities.

There are only two genders... only the mentally ill think otherwise.

Better to keep these loonies in check

Same goes for UK.

Trantifa unmasked.

A radical trans militant from Colchester, England is running a campaign to vandalize the Equality and Human Rights Commission with buckets of human feces as revenge for it providing legal guidance on single-sex spaces. This radical uses the alias "Lucy Rose Shaftain-Fenner" and "Frankie," but his real name is Jed Liam E. Shaftain-Fenner. By opposing the sex-based reality, he believes he is fighting "fascism."

Credit to Andy Ngo.

On 8/6/2026 at 1:45 PM, youreavinalaff said:

I recently attended a show at the theatre. The toilet facilities were gender neutral. One door to enter. Once inside there were rows of cubicles with locking doors.

It was convenient. Women could help their young sons, men could help their young daughters, women, men, gays, lesbians, trans, could all happily get on with what they needed to do without any issues.

These freaks and perverts should not be nowhere near me or any kids.

On 8/10/2026 at 9:18 AM, FinChin67 said:

These freaks and perverts should not be nowhere near me or any kids.

"Freaks and perverts"? That's a statement that needs facts to back it up. Do you have any facts?

If anyone has spent any amount of time in Thailand they will have seen males and females using the same toilet facilities in many bars, usually with a bloke sitting there collecting tips for keeping the facilities clean. The Country Road bar in soi cowboy is one example. Nobody seems to be offended.

Of course I am talking about adults in this case, not kids.

6 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

"Freaks and perverts"? That's a statement that needs facts to back it up. Do you have any facts?

Start from these. I can send you few per day but I think you are capable finding these yourself.

1 LGBTQ therapist Remington Yhap arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old transgender client.

2 Director of education for HiTops, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit focused on bringing queer theory and gender ideology into schools, says that the most critical time to get in the classroom are grades 5-8, to “catch kids when they’re starting puberty.” She goes onto say the the most rewarding experience for her was after going into an elementary school, 5 of students went to the principal’s office and “came out.” This is simply demonic.

3 If you don’t think he’s a woman, you’re transphobic. When he claimed to be a woman, he became a woman. He now belongs in women’s changing rooms, bathrooms, hospital wards, prison cells and rape support centres

12 hours ago, FinChin67 said:

Start from these. I can send you few per day but I think you are capable finding these yourself.

1 LGBTQ therapist Remington Yhap arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old transgender client.

2 Director of education for HiTops, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit focused on bringing queer theory and gender ideology into schools, says that the most critical time to get in the classroom are grades 5-8, to “catch kids when they’re starting puberty.” She goes onto say the the most rewarding experience for her was after going into an elementary school, 5 of students went to the principal’s office and “came out.” This is simply demonic.

3 If you don’t think he’s a woman, you’re transphobic. When he claimed to be a woman, he became a woman. He now belongs in women’s changing rooms, bathrooms, hospital wards, prison cells and rape support centres

That's not proof. What's happened is you've been watching these videos and formed an opinion and tried to convince yourself it's true and every other LGBTQ individual is the same.

Aa ypu said yourself, Remington Yhap is "alleged" to have committed a crime.

Edited August 12Aug 12 by youreavinalaff

23 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

That's not proof. What's happened is you've been watching these videos and formed an opinion and tried to convince yourself it's true and every other LGBTQ individual is the same.

Aa ypu said yourself, Remington Yhap is "alleged" to have committed a crime.

You do you but do not try to put words in my mouth how I have formed my opinion.

"They", the freaks and perverts, need to stay out my space and not to let anywhere near kids.

12 minutes ago, FinChin67 said:

You do you but do not try to put words in my mouth how I have formed my opinion.

"They", the freaks and perverts, need to stay out my space and not to let anywhere near kids.

I do what?

Who are "they"?

If you want all freaks to stay away from children, as I would think most people would, you should change your blinkered approach to who the freaks might be.

53 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

I do what?

Who are "they"?

If you want all freaks to stay away from children, as I would think most people would, you should change your blinkered approach to who the freaks might be.

You need more samples? Here's few.

"Kirby" Rankin, one of the Ohio trans child m—rder suspects was out on bail at the time of the boy's torture and killing after being convicted for brutally beating a 57-year-old woman in Fairfield, Ohio. HIS real identity is Nathan Rankin. (Many trans criminals adopt legal new names as they move around to hide who they really are.) Rankin has a tattoo on HIS left arm reading "This machine kills fascists." The slogan is popular with Antifa. The m—rdered child's biological father, Thomas John Ellis, was involved in Antifa and mutual aid activism online. Freak nightmarish trans household where 7-year-old William Evans-Ellis was tortured to death.

This masked freak has been staring down speakers who are against the $300K for “trans refugees.” Genuinely scary stuff. Muttering nonsense under their breath and taking close ups of people’s faces after their remarks. Appears to be shaking in anger. Unhinged stuff.

Complete butching of the human body and think everything from then on is pure regret.

Another man living a fantasy. You are not banned. The facilities that match your biological sex are the ones you use. Stop terrorising women and girls.

“They” = the ones turning childhood into a political and medical experiment and calling dissent bigotry. I want freaks (LGBTQ they, them or whatever new ++ they invent) kept away from kids. The ones doing it in schools, libraries, and clinics that think they somehow have a right because they wave a flag.

You do you if you want to go with the mentally ill freaks. I'm not. If. you do not understand that so be it.