\n<\/p>\n
The lives of transgender people are at risk of being made “almost unliveable” following the Supreme Court’s judgement on the definition of a woman, according to former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.<\/p>\n The ex-SNP leader, speaking for the first time about the landmark ruling, also raised concerns about interim guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.<\/p>\n The Supreme court ruled last month that sex is defined by biological sex under equality law. <\/p>\n Sturgeon said the court’s authority could not be questioned, but said the key issue was how the ruling was translated into practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Supreme Court ruling followed years of legal wrangling which began in 2018 while Sturgeon was first minister. <\/p>\n The EHRC has since published an interim update on what it means for the operation of single-sex spaces.<\/p>\n It states that in places like hospitals, shops and restaurants, trans women should not be permitted to use women’s facilities<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters in the Scottish Parliament, the former SNP leader said: “I would be very concerned if that interim guidance became the final guidance.<\/p>\n “I hope that’s not the case because I think that potentially makes the lives of trans people almost unliveable.”<\/p>\n A prominent supporter of transgender rights, Sturgeon’s government introduced controversial gender recognition reforms<\/a> that would have made it easier for people in Scotland to change their legally-recognised sex.<\/p>\n The reforms were ultimately blocked by the UK government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sturgeon said she “fundamentally” disagreed with claims that she owed an apology to opponents of the gender recognition reforms.<\/p>\n The former first minister said no-one could question the authority of the Supreme Court. <\/p>\n However, she said questions remained about how the judgment would be put into practice in a way that protects women and allows trans people to live with “dignity” and in safety.<\/p>\n Sturgeon told reporters: “I think some of the early indications would raise concerns in my mind that we are at risk of making the lives of trans people almost unliveable and I don’t think the majority of people in the country would want to see that.<\/p>\n “It certainly doesn’t make a single woman any safer to do that because the threat to women, as I think we all know, comes from predatory and abusive men.”<\/p>\n She said it was not “inevitable” that the judgement makes the lives of trans people “impossibly difficult”, but said there was a danger that could happen depending on the way the ruling was interpreted.<\/p>\n The SNP MSP told reporters if that happened then changes to the law as it stands would need to be considered.<\/p>\n The Scottish government has said it accepts the Supreme Court ruling and is awaiting full EHRC guidance, which is expected in the summer. <\/p>\n The case followed years of heated debate over transgender and women’s rights, including controversy over transgender rapist Isla Bryson<\/a> initially being put in a women’s prison and an ongoing employment tribunal involving a female NHS Fife nurse<\/a> who objected to a transgender doctor using a women’s changing room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “Nicola Sturgeon betrayed women and divided Scotland with her reckless gender self-ID policy, yet she still can’t bring herself to apologise.”<\/p>\n She added: “Nicola Sturgeon needs to hold her hands up and say sorry to the women of Scotland.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Impossibly difficult’ <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n