A Twitter exchange between UK Labour MP Apsana Begum and YouTuber Mahyar Tousi has drawn public attention following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that defines “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 as strictly a biological female.
Reacting to the ruling, Begum wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Including the trans community is essential to ensuring that everyone in society is equal. Against the global backdrop of increasing attacks on trans people, rollbacks on their human rights & today’s court ruling, now more than ever before we must provide them dignity and safety.”
Tousi replied with a pointed question: “Would you send ‘trans women’ to the male or female section of a mosque, Apsana?”—a response that triggered backlash and reignited debate over religious inclusion, trans rights, and gender identity in public spaces.
The online spat came just hours after the UK’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer exclusively to biological women. “The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological women and biological sex,” said Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Justice Patrick Hodge. “We counsel against reading this judgment as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another. It is not.”
The ruling is seen as a major blow to trans rights campaigners, particularly in relation to access to women-only spaces such as domestic violence shelters, hospital wards, and sports facilities. Legal analysts say the judgement could also influence future legal battles over equal pay, sex-segregated spaces, and diversity in hiring.
While the court reaffirmed that transgender individuals remain protected under the act, it clarified that their protections fall under “gender reassignment,” not “sex.” The case was brought by the group For Women Scotland (FWS), which challenged a Scottish government directive allowing trans women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) to be counted as women for public sector equality duties.
The ruling was welcomed by author JK Rowling, a vocal FWS supporter, who said, “This case has protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.” Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ organisations criticised the verdict, warning that it could restrict trans women’s access to vital services.
