News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: Jessica_Rose on August 06, 2026, 12:46:47 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Six London councils pledge to keep trans-inclusive services despite EHRC...
Post by: Jessica_Rose on August 06, 2026, 12:46:47 PM
Post by: Jessica_Rose on August 06, 2026, 12:46:47 PM
Six London councils pledge to keep trans-inclusive services despite new EHRC guidance
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/08/06/london-councils-ehrc-guidance/
Sian Thompson (6 Aug 2026)
The leaders of Lambeth, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham, Southwark and Waltham Forest boroughs issued a joint letter yesterday (5 August) – the day that EHRC's single-sex spaces guidance officially came into force in England, Scotland and Wales.
Because of this guidance, access to public single-sex spaces such as toilets, changing rooms and rape crisis centres should now be determined by person's sex as it was assigned at birth.
The Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat-led boroughs said they would not require staff to "police" access to public spaces, arguing the guidance would make transgender and non-binary residents feel under attack.
While some councils say they will continue operating inclusive services, legal challenges have already begun, with Hackney being served a formal legal challenge due to failure to provide services exclusively for cis women, as reported by The Times.
EHRC chair Mary-Ann Stephenson warned in a statement to Times Radio that public bodies remain legally "obliged to follow the law".
https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/08/06/london-councils-ehrc-guidance/
Sian Thompson (6 Aug 2026)
The leaders of Lambeth, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham, Southwark and Waltham Forest boroughs issued a joint letter yesterday (5 August) – the day that EHRC's single-sex spaces guidance officially came into force in England, Scotland and Wales.
Because of this guidance, access to public single-sex spaces such as toilets, changing rooms and rape crisis centres should now be determined by person's sex as it was assigned at birth.
The Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat-led boroughs said they would not require staff to "police" access to public spaces, arguing the guidance would make transgender and non-binary residents feel under attack.
While some councils say they will continue operating inclusive services, legal challenges have already begun, with Hackney being served a formal legal challenge due to failure to provide services exclusively for cis women, as reported by The Times.
EHRC chair Mary-Ann Stephenson warned in a statement to Times Radio that public bodies remain legally "obliged to follow the law".
Title: Re: Six London councils pledge to keep trans-inclusive services despite EHRC...
Post by: Devlyn on August 06, 2026, 03:10:33 PM
Post by: Devlyn on August 06, 2026, 03:10:33 PM
The world is full of idiots. Mostly idiots, in fact. That's why only 6 out of 317 councils in England are saying "Yeah, no, this new law is stupid and we're not going along with it."
Title: Re: Six London councils pledge to keep trans-inclusive services despite EHRC...
Post by: Charlotte Kitty on August 06, 2026, 03:25:52 PM
Post by: Charlotte Kitty on August 06, 2026, 03:25:52 PM
Theyll change once the US funded lawsuits come through
Title: Re: Six London councils pledge to keep trans-inclusive services despite EHRC...
Post by: Stottie Girl on August 06, 2026, 04:36:49 PM
Post by: Stottie Girl on August 06, 2026, 04:36:49 PM
I work for a county council and we have not adopted any changes yet, it's as you were as far as trans policy is concerned. It may just be that they take ages to do anything but it might be because they are hoping legal challenges will be successful so they can avoid paying a fortune in revamping WC facilities! Better yet, it may be because they fundamentally disagree with the guidence like an awful lot of other public bodies.
Title: Re: Six London councils pledge to keep trans-inclusive services despite EHRC...
Post by: Liz K on August 06, 2026, 04:59:18 PM
Post by: Liz K on August 06, 2026, 04:59:18 PM
So what are they going to do when there's mass non-compliance? That's where I see this going. Most trans folks won't change their behavior and most venues don't have the resources to comply.