The University and College Union (UCU) has issued a strong call for employers across the post-16 education sector to support the rights of staff to use gendered facilities in line with their gender identities, following a landmark Supreme Court ruling which clarified that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.
Delegates at the union’s annual congress on Monday overwhelmingly backed four motions aimed at strengthening support for trans rights, despite what the union described as a “wave of unprecedented attacks on trans people’s human rights”.
The move follows the Supreme Court’s decision last month which, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), could mean trans women are not permitted to use women’s spaces such as toilets and changing rooms in workplaces or public services, with similar restrictions applying to trans men in men’s spaces.
In response, the EHRC published interim guidance stating that access to gendered facilities could be restricted based on birth sex, provided that such restrictions are deemed “necessary and proportionate”. The guidance stresses that if birth sex must be confirmed, it should be done sensitively to avoid discrimination or harassment. A consultation on the guidance runs until 30 June.
UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said the union was proud to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with trans people amid the current climate. “This year trans people have suffered a wave of attacks against them, but UCU remains steadfast as one of their most vocal allies,” she said. “We refuse to allow trans people to be the collateral of a right-wing culture war and while they continue to experience violence at home, in the workplace and on the airwaves, we will stand by them.”
One of the congress motions explicitly rejected the implications of the Supreme Court ruling, highlighting that current practices in most universities and colleges already allow trans staff and students to access facilities in line with their gender identities. The union resolved to call on all employers to support and uphold those inclusive practices despite the legal clarification.
As part of its campaign, UCU will issue a public statement to members and across its social media platforms expressing concern at the ruling and reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of trans people. The union is also urging employers to develop and implement comprehensive trans-inclusive policies “as a matter of urgency”.
Another motion passed during the congress criticised the Government’s response to the Cass Review, which scrutinised NHS gender care for young people. The UCU accused ministers of ignoring “damning critiques” of the review’s methodology and findings. The union will now write to Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemning the permanent ban on NHS prescribing of puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria and advocating for care that “affirms and values” trans people.
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The Cass Review, published in 2024, led to NHS England introducing new requirements whereby referrals to gender clinics must now be made through a GP and a mental health professional or paediatrician. The decision to stop prescribing puberty blockers was made permanent in December, though a clinical trial into their use is expected to launch later this year, pending ethical approval and recruitment of participants.
In addition to domestic issues, UCU delegates also raised concerns about international developments. Two motions condemned the administration of US President Donald Trump, specifically referencing what the union described as “concerted attacks upon trans people”.
The union’s stance underscores a growing divide between the legal interpretation of sex and gender in the UK and the commitments of many institutions and advocacy groups to support trans rights. UCU’s leadership says it is determined to continue campaigning for an inclusive environment in education — one in which all staff and students can live and work with dignity and safety, regardless of gender identity.
