Omagh Pride anger over council’s single sex guideline proposals

OMAGH Pride has expressed dismay and anger at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s statement it will be ‘implementing the provisions’ of a recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of sex in equality law.

The landmark ruling, which applies to the Equality Act 2010, clarified that the protected characteristic of “sex” refers to biological sex. This has implications for single-sex spaces, such as toilets, changing rooms and refuge centres, where the ruling stated access can be restricted on that basis.

However, the situation is complicated in the North because a different set of equal rights laws apply here.

Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show asked a number of public bodies, including health trusts, councils and government departments about how they plan to react to the Supreme Court ruling.

Most of the organisations told the programme they are still considering its implications.

A spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council told the programme they do not currently have a policy on single sex spaces.

However, the council spokesperson said they will be developing new guidance for the use of changing rooms at leisure facilities and toilets further to the Supreme Court ruling.

The spokesperson said the local council will be implementing the provisions of the Supreme Court ruling across its estate.

However, Omagh Pride said it was unclear why the council had ‘rushed to this position’ and warned of the impact the decision could have on the local transgender community.

“This is yet another decision that would have a deeply adverse impact on trans people, adding to isolation and putting their safety at risk,” the group said.

They argued that trans people are already facing increased marginalisation, and rejected what they called ‘baseless implications’ that trans women pose a threat in women-only spaces.

“There has been a horrifying rise in gender-based violence in Northern Ireland, but this has overwhelmingly been perpetrated by cisgender men, not trans people,” the statement continued. “We reject cynical attempts to counterpose trans rights and women’s rights from those who have no interest in either.”

Omagh Pride is now calling on elected representatives to speak out against the council’s move and ensure that no policy changes are introduced that would ‘undermine the rights and risk the safety’ of trans individuals.

The group said it plans to contact councillors directly and urged members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to do the same.

They added that if the council does not reverse its position, they intend to organise a protest at the next meeting of the local authority, due to be held in Enniskillen on the evening of Tuesday, May 6.