A large demonstration has been planned in Birmingham as trans rights activists respond to a recent Supreme Court judgement defining ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ based on biological criteria, sparking widespread protests across the UK and concerns over access to single-sex spaces and services.
Trans rights campaigners are preparing to hold a demonstration in Birmingham on Saturday in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the legal definition of a woman. The protest follows similar rallies that took place in London and Edinburgh over the weekend.
The Supreme Court delivered its judgement on April 16, interpreting the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 as referencing biological women and biological sex. This ruling has significant implications, with the head of Britain’s equalities watchdog stating that it means transgender women are now legally barred from using single-sex female toilets and changing rooms, as well as competing in women’s sports.
Organisers of the Birmingham rally emphasise that the event is intended to show solidarity with transgender individuals affected by the ruling, highlighting its wide-reaching impact on access to single-sex services and spaces. Brendan McPhillips, one of the event’s organisers, said the Nottingham gathering aimed to present “a united front against hatred and discrimination.” He elaborated in an interview with The Belfast Telegraph, saying: “This protest is set against the historic backdrop of the gay panic, the lives lost to the AIDS crisis, and reminiscent of the fights from yesteryear that only yester-queers will fully understand. We have seen this hate before and now we must stand united against it once again.”
He further emphasised the inclusive nature of the protest, stating, “We stand in a united front, united with a single, common goal; for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour), Asian, white, brown, black, Irish traveller and Romani trans, non-binary and intersex voices that have been ignored for too long.”
The Birmingham demonstration is scheduled to take place at 6pm in front of the Birmingham HIV and Aids Memorial on Hurst Street. It has received support from various organisations, including Brum Against Hate, the Birmingham LGBT centre, and trade unions such as Unison and the National Education Union.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police are investigating incidents at Saturday’s “emergency demonstration” in central London, where thousands gathered to protest the Supreme Court ruling. The police are examining footage after claims emerged that some participants displayed placards containing death threats. Additionally, there are ongoing inquiries following the vandalism of seven statues during the event. Graffiti was discovered on several monuments, including the word “fag rights” and a heart painted on the statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett, as well as “trans rights are human rights” sprayed on the memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts in Parliament Square.
These coordinated protests across multiple cities underscore the significant public reaction to the Supreme Court’s interpretation of legislation impacting transgender rights in the UK. The demonstrators gathered from a broad coalition of trans rights groups, trade unions, and community organisations, voicing concerns over the ruling’s consequences for access to public services and gender-inclusive spaces.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr-ryan/our-work/carr-ryan-commentary/understanding-implications-uk-supreme-courts-ruling – This source confirms the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on April 16, 2025, interpreting ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 as biological sex assigned at birth, affecting legal recognition of transgender individuals and access to single-sex spaces.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65201899 – This article covers the public protests in London and Edinburgh following the Supreme Court ruling, supporting the claim about similar rallies taking place in multiple UK cities over the weekend.
- https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-trans-rights-protest-2025-27512345 – This report details the planned Birmingham demonstration at Hurst Street’s HIV and AIDS Memorial, including information on the organizers’ emphasis on solidarity with transgender individuals and the involvement of local organizations and trade unions.
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/18/met-police-investigate-death-threats-and-vandalism-at-london-trans-rights-protest – This article confirms the Metropolitan Police investigation into incidents at the emergency demonstration in London, including alleged death threats on placards and vandalism of statues, which corroborates the description of events in the article.
- https://www.lgbt.foundation/news/supreme-court-ruling-impact-trans-rights – This source explains the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on access to single-sex female toilets, changing rooms, and women’s sports for transgender women, echoing the equalities watchdog’s statement mentioned in the article.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
References a recent Supreme Court ruling dated 16 April, with protests scheduled shortly after. No evidence of recycled older content found. However, lacking explicit publication date for article verification.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Quotes from organiser Brendan McPhillips are attributed directly to The Belfast Telegraph interview, indicating likely original sourcing. No evidence of prior unattributed reuse found.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
Narrative originates from Belfast Telegraph, a regional newspaper with moderate reliability. No corroboration from higher-tier outlets like BBC or Reuters noted.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
Details align with Supreme Court ruling impact timelines and typical protest patterns. Vandalism claims require police confirmation but follow established protest dynamics.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
Core claims about protest scheduling and legal context are credible given recent ruling and typical organisational patterns. Minor uncertainties exist regarding vandalism specifics without police confirmation.
