This article is an updated translation from a French-language one published today on this blog.
The Supreme Court v autonomy
For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers started in 2022. The anti-feminist and anti-LGBT association attacked a measure of the Scottish government*.
Scotland’s autonomy is in the crosshairs. But also autonomy of trans people in Scotland and the rest of the UK: it is no longer really recognized.
The consequences are extremely serious. The country is no longer in the EU. Barriers fall because of the decision of the Judges.
Thousands of scientists v the Supreme Court
More than 2,600 sociologists, 630 historians, 220 biologists and 41 research center leaders signed four open letters related to their fields of research*.
The Supreme Court, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights and the current UK government are being strongly criticised for their biologism* and lack of knowledge in history and sociology.
The letters point out the lack of consultation with trans people or experts, the pseudo-scientific nature of the decision and the danger to minorities.
Significant risks
Sociologists, uniting against transphobia and refusing to be associated with it, demonstrate that this decision does not protect women or other minorities.
Historians advocate for trans rights and talk about this decision as going back to the worst periods in the history of persecution of trans people in the UK.
Biologists claim that sex is not binary and that the definition given by the authorities is wrong. The centres claim that the body autonomy right is in danger.
To conclude.
Minorities autonomy is threatened in the UK. The rejection of science by the State creates the risk of more systematic persecution and even genocide.
Gender nonconforming, inter(sex) and non-binary people are in danger because of this erasure. The essentialism of 'sex binarity' is pseudoscientific.
Conservative movements (including UK Labour Party) are trying to replace biology, sociology and history by pseudosciences. Time has come to say STOP.
Notes
* The measure concerned the definition of "woman" and "man", which was not based on sex binarity but on scientific research. An equality law in Scotland had already been targeted by the association.
* The letters were signed separately by groups of researchers: sociologists, feminists and educators; historians; biologists, physicians and other experts; gender, feminist and sexuality studies, research groups and networks working on gender, feminism and sexuality. As the signature forms are still open, it is possible that the numbers changed.
* Biologism is an ideology. Biologism rejects biology. They try to replace it by a pseudoscience.
Sources
"Not in our name: Feminist academics and educators speak out against transphobia"
"Statement about Supreme Court judgment on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010"