A Cambridge college is facing controversy after it changes toilet layouts and signage, including replacing gender markings with “cubicles” and “cubicles/urinals,” according to reports.
The dispute is linked to updated guidance on how “sex” is used in UK equality law. The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s code of practice, which took effect in August, reinforces a Supreme Court ruling made last year. That ruling holds that, for the purposes of equality legislation, “sex” refers to biological sex rather than gender identity.
Different outlets describe the change as part of compliance with the Supreme Court framework, while others portray it as disregarding the needs of transgender or gender-diverse students. The current reporting centers on whether the college’s approach to single-sex spaces aligns with the legal and regulatory guidance now in force.
