LGBTQ+
YWCA Yorkshire is an inclusive organisation, below we have included useful information and resources for the LGBTQ+ community and friends.
As a women’s rights organisation, YWCA Yorkshire’s priority is to deliver safe, effective and legally compliant services that protect and promote the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all women and girls. Our commitment is to uphold women’s rights, ensure equality of access, and provide services that place safeguarding and protection at their core.
The recent High Court ruling has clarified the legal interpretation of “woman” and “man” within the Equality Act 2010. The judgment determined that:
The protected characteristic of “sex” refers exclusively to biological sex as assigned at birth.
The legal definitions that apply to single-sex spaces, services, and roles must be based on biological sex rather than gender identity, including in cases where an individual holds a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC).
Transgender people remain protected under the Equality Act 2010 through the separate characteristic of “gender reassignment.”
In response to this clarification, YWCA Yorkshire will take the following actions:
Review and amend our policies and procedures to ensure alignment with the court’s ruling and the Equality Act 2010.
Maintain safeguarding and safety as central principles in all service delivery, ensuring women and girls continue to access environments where they feel secure, respected, and supported.
Engage with stakeholders, commissioners, and service users through open and transparent dialogue to ensure that policy changes are understood and implemented with care and sensitivity.
YWCA Yorkshire remains committed to its mission of advancing women’s rights, protecting women’s spaces, and delivering high-quality services that respond to the needs of women and girls. Our focus will continue to be on ensuring that our services are rights-based, legally compliant, and trusted by the communities we serve.
