The Trans Round-Up: headlines we’re following (July 2025)

Welcome to a new section that we’re calling “The Trans Round-Up: headlines we’re following“. At Amelia’s Angels we cover a lot of the issues that are affecting our community but there’s so much else going on, we can not cover everything BUT we are watching, reading & gathering information.

So here’s other news you may have missed.

In The News

Mhairi Black quits SNP
Museums warning on EHRC guidance
Trans dart player harassed and banned
SNP warns EHRC guidance may lead to discrimination and distrust
Tribunal affecting Trans woman Doctor in Fife continues
Brighton rape crisis centre adds additional services following legal proceedings.
Good Law Project can advance case against EHRC guidance

Stories and issues we covered at Amelia’s Angels:

Trans Joy you missed at Amelia’s Angels:

Mhairi Black quits SNP:

Summary: Mhairi Black, who became the youngest MP aged 20, but stepped down before the 2024 election, has announced she has left the SNP following growing concerns about the party’s stance on issues including trans rights, Gaza and more.

Speaking to The Herald, the 30 year-old, who has been touring the UK with a show about her time in politics, spoke about the “capitulation on LGBT rights, trans rights in particular“.

Black who is a lesbian, and a long-time vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, also cited her unhappiness with Deputy First Minister Katie Forbes who has openly espoused views against same-sex marriage. “Basically, for a long time I’ve not agreed with quite a few decisions that have been made. There have just been too many times when I’ve thought, ‘I don’t agree with what you’ve done there,’ or the decision or strategy that has been arrived at.”

Museums warning on new EHRC guidance:

Summary: Museums Galleries Scotland have come out with a scathing statement on EHRC proposals, in regards to the UK Supreme Court decision. Citing concerns that “the content and process of the EHRC Code of Practice does not uphold the spirit of inclusion“, the MSG slated the way trans people had not been consulted in drawing up guidance and slammed the consultation period for being too short, not giving advocacy groups, nor companies who would have to implement measures, time to properly canvass members. They also pointed out how policies were being drawn up to exclude rather than be inclusive:

“What stands out most starkly is that there is no guidance on how to include trans people, there is only information on how to exclude them. This guidance has not made sufficient effort to offer advice to museums and organisations who wish to remain or become trans inclusive on how they could do so.

Due to the lack of clarity in the guidance there is a significant potential that the human rights of trans people will be impacted for example, being banned from toilets/groups/events that align with their lived or expressed gender.“

MSG also warned that some of its 455 members may be forced to close because of the impracticability to enforce EHRC measures: “For some museums, they may need to change their toilet facilities to avoid the higher risk of legal consequences…unintended consequences could include some museums temporarily closing to avoid breaching the law.“

Trans dart player harassed and banned

Summary: Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has been the subject of harassment and protests on the darts circuit. The Dutch player has seen protests from anti-trans groups who have been ejected from venues for attempting to throw items at her, as well as two team members from the national team leaving, citing Van Leuven’s inclusion.

And now, the World Darts Federation (WDF) has updated its policy to ban trans women outright from the sport. The ban which is effective immediately, means trans women will now only be able to play in the open category, which includes men.

“Transgender participation in darts is a complex, evolving subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in scientific studies, law, or the wishes of the WDF’s Member Countries that we would review the policy and make changes where necessary,” it’s statement includes.

Van Leuven, who mainly competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events (and still has a trans inclusive policy), has vowed to continue playing:

“I love this game too much, why would I let anyone else ruin my passion for darts? I just want to play darts“.

SNP warns EHRC guidance may lead to discrimination and distrust

Summary: The SNP and Scottish Government has warned that the EHRC’s guidance that is being drawn up following the Supreme Court decision in early 2025, may lead to abuse and discrimination.

Although the Scottish Government has accepted the Supreme Court judgement, it said that it is “absolutely clear that trans men, trans women, and non-binary people are valued in our society” but that they had been the focus of “disproportionate marginalisation and media attention“.

The Government warned that the guidance seemed more focused on exclusion rather than inclusion. They also raised human rights concerns:

“We note that the impact of the guidance may lead to situations where some members of the public will take it upon themselves to judge appearances and assume someone’s sex based on their perception of that person’s sex or gender identity.”

Tribunal affecting Trans woman Doctor in Fife continues

Summary: The tribunal in Scotland, surrounding a nurse who was removed from her job following allegations of harassment against a trans woman doctor, has continued with revelations about the wider troubling views of the nurse at the centre of the row (racism) and the tribunal descending into chaos at the deliberate misgendering of the doctor.

In a session near the end of the tribunal, a former friend alleged that Nurse Peggie had shared racist views against South Asian people, Muslims and Chinese people.

In one instance she allegedly told a colleague that she wanted to put bacon in the front door of a mosque, while in a private text group chat, shared with friends that she thought that Doctor Upton was a “weirdo” and continuously referred to her as “it” but claimed this was “dark humour“. According to the BBC, Peggie admitted her comments ‘were derogatory and demeaning, but added they were only made between a small group of friends’.

Dr Upton has been the subject of constant misgendering at the tribunal as Peggie was given the right to use male pronouns when talking about the case. Peggie’s lawyers also use male pronouns against the doctor even though this is not what she uses. It has led to chaos at the tribunal as some witnesses have found themselves confused and unwittingly misgendered following questioning from Peggie’s representatives. This is something that Dr Upton’s K.C. Jane Russell brought this up as one witness was visibly upset after accidentally misgendering the doctor;

“I want to raise concerns about the consistent misgendering. I have checked the equal treatment benchmark from May 2025 which says we should use an individual’s preferred pronouns or alternatively the gender neutral ‘they’ to help minimise offence.”

A consultant, called to give evidence, also said that Dr Upton was “chromosomally male” but also said she did not believe not advising staff that Dr Upton would be using women’s changing rooms, would be unreasonable, citing a concern about violating “someone’s confidentiality“.

NHS Fife has also called in the police citing concerns over threats it has received. In a statement it released, they said:

“In some cases, however, what began as debate has evolved into much more worrying behaviour, including a threat of physical harm and sexual violence, which has required the involvement of Police Scotland.”

Evidence sessions in the case are now ended (as of 30 July) and a decision awaits. Nurse Peggie has been cleared of some of the misconduct charges against her.

Brighton rape crisis centre ads additional services following legal proceedings.

Summary: In 2022, Brighton’s Survivor’s Network found itself at the centre of a lawsuit, after a woman sued them after expressing discomfort of discussing her trauma in front of a trans woman who had also joined the group.

Now after 4 years, both the woman named ‘Sara’ and the Survivor’s Network have come to an agreement before the case was due to go to court this September.

The Survivor’s Network has said in order to “avoid all areas of provision being forced into a binary position, we have negotiated and agreed the delivery of an additional pilot service that sits alongside those already in operation“.

This means the charity will create an additional women’s only session for survivors, while also continuing to provide the initial group which will provide trans inclusive support for trans and non-binary survivors.

The Survivor’s Network, who has been trans-inclusive since 1990, acknowledges that for some “biological women” a separate space “is imperative for their healing“.

Good Law Project can advance case against EHRC guidance

Summary: And finally (and just in time before we hit the publish button), we’re reading news from the Good Law Project, who are taking their case to court in support of trans clients against the EHRC’s guidance.

Today, after an initial hearing, the High Court has granted a two-day hearing in November to hear the case.

The Good Law Project says after today’s ruling that “businesses and services should “hold fire, or find themselves in hot water””

In an article posted today (30/7) shortly after their appearance in court the Good Law Project went on to say:

““The EHRC’s guidance could be leading people into legal error,” O’Thomson said. “A narrative has been spun up about the ‘clarity’ brought by the Supreme Court judgment, but the legal situation is actually very complex.”

Anti-trans actors have taken this “as a green light to try and strip away trans rights”, O’Thomson added, “but that’s just not how the law works. Businesses are taking a big risk by rushing ahead without the full picture.”

“Trans people still have human rights protections in this country, and at Good Law Project, we plan to defend them.”“

You can help the Good Law Project in this fight. More information can be found on the links below.

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