A DISTRICT councillor has hailed the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

‘I am so, so glad that they came down on the side of common sense’ Cllr Jane Taylor said.

‘In 2025, the Supreme Court having to give a definition of a women, when every single one of us knows what a woman is... is surreal.

‘For five Supreme Court judges to have to tell us... the whole thing is very surreal’ Cllr Taylor added.

The supreme court ruled on Wednesday, April 16, that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

Judges ruled unanimously that the legal definition of a woman did not include transgender women who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate.

In the wake of the ruling, many public bodies, including those overseeing sports, will be reviewing their gender policies, though day-to-day changes will take time to become visible.

‘The implications had they not would basically mean that men and women no longer exist’ Cllr Taylor said.

‘Sex is immutable, you are either a man or a woman.

‘People can identify however they want, but they cannot become the opposite sex’ Cllr Taylor added.

‘I will still exist as a woman, had it gone the other way women wouldn't exist.

‘I can go into a single sex space, for my friends, my lesbian friends, can meet as a group of lesbians without having to have a man present.

‘It is about safety, it is about dignity, just like men, men should be allowed to have a male only group’ Cllr Taylor added.

The ruling was welcomed by Cllr Taylor for another reason.

The representative for Kerswell-with-Coombe said it made her feel ‘vindicated’ in relation to her ongoing dispute with Teignbridge District Council (TDC) over single-sex changing rooms and its related policies.

In light of the ruling, the Mid-Devon Advertiser reached out to council leader, Cllr Richard Keeling, for a response.

Cllr Keeling, said that the council has ‘always abided by the law in protecting women and girls in any services we provide.’

‘This ruling does not change anything the council does, as we always put the safety of women and girls first’ Cllr Keeling said.

The Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations said that is was ‘deeply concerned’ at the ‘widespread, harmful implications of today’s [April 16] Supreme Court ruling’.

‘It is important to be reminded that the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Equality Act protects trans people against discrimination’ the charity, which supports not-for-profit LGBT+ organisations and groups and is based in Exeter, said.

‘We will never stop working towards equal rights for all LGBT+ people’ the charity added.