Drag Race UK stars slam Supreme Court trans ruling: ‘The fight back starts today’
Drag Race UK stars have slammed the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of a woman (Getty/ WOW)
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ as outlined in the Equality Act refers to ‘biological’ women and not trans women – and stars of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise are firing back.
The ruling was passed Wednesday (16 April) after a two-day hearing in London in 2024, with the 88-page judgement by the court’s justices stating that although trans people still have protection against discrimination under the law, the definition of a woman is ‘limited to biological sex’.
“The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex,” Supreme Court judge Lord Hodge said in the landmark case.
He added that the judges “counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another, it is not”.
The case was brought forward on appeal by gender-critical group For Women Scotland (FWS) – which has reportedly been supported by author JK Rowling – against the Scottish government after judge Lady Haldane’s previous ruling in December 2022, which found that sex is not limited to biology.
Trans people and their allies have reacted to the ruling with outrage and pointed out the flawed logic of the decision.
Drag Race UK season one runner-up Divina De Campo took to X to address the Supreme Court themselves and issue a rallying call to allies, writing, “The fight back starts today. We will not go back into the shadows to make you comfortable. F**k all the way off.”
Season two finalist Tayce posted several Instagram Stories on the matter, writing, “UK Supreme Court is a POS [piece of sh*t].”
She added, “My heart goes out to all my trans brothers and sisters eternally but more so today. Nothing or no-one can erase YOU.”
And Tayce’s fellow runner-up Bimini also shared several posts to her Instagram Story, including a simple, “Trans women are women,” banner. She also shared Not A Phase’s infographic post to her profile.
One of only two trans Drag Race UK stars, season five’s Cara Melle, wrote on her Story, “The way time seems to be going backwards and all issues seem to be pointed in one direction (trans women) is oh so interesting.
“But we are resilient and going nowhere.”
Drag Race UK vs. the World winner Tia Kofi also posted several Stories in which she directly addressed the camera, saying, “We, now more than ever, must be allies to the trans community. It cannot just be trans people who are expected to raise their voices to fight for their own existence.”
“As allies, it is our responsibility to amplify their voice,” she continued.
“And I’m not fear mongering, but there is literal historical precedent of people going after small, minority groups, to then continue to take rights away from other minority groups…. The obvious next steps are to go for every other marginalised group.
“You should be able to be an ally just from a place of empathy… but even if you only care about yourself, the pattern is clear.”
Season four runner-up Cheddar Gorgeous has also shared several posts speaking out against the ruling, along with season three runner-up Ella Vaday, who wrote that the decision heralds a “devastating day for equality,” adding, “To my trans siblings, I love you… continue being your true selves.”
Trans icon, Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan has also shared her “scared” reaction the ruling, with the White Lotus‘s Aimee Lou Wood following suit.
