Spain’s first out trans senator declares ‘F*** Rowling’ as she uses women’s bathroom

Spain’s first out trans senator has revelled in defying the UK’s proposed trans toilet ban.

Carla Antonelli took to Instagram on Monday (21 July) to mock the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s proposed ban which followed the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman excluded trans women. 

Speaking in Spanish, Antonelli said she used the toilets at Gatwick airport that adhere to her affirmed gender, and proceeded to go back in to wash her hands “because I am very fond of breaking the rules”.

With Lily Allen’s 2008 hit “F*** You” heard in the background, the actress-turned-politician extended her middle finger to Harry Potter author Rowling, who donated money to help gender-critical group For Women Scotland take the case to the Supreme Court. 

The caption to Antonelli’s video reads, “F***Rowling” alongside a magic wand emoji.

Although trans women have not been banned from single-sex spaces in the UK, non-statutory guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in April called for transgender people to be barred from all gendered toilets. 

It also said businesses could be guilty of “indirect sex discrimination against women” by providing only gender-neutral facilities. This could disproportionately affect spaces such as LGBTQ+ clubs and venues, which tend to have these as standard.

I love it when a plan comes together.#SupremeCourt #WomensRights pic.twitter.com/agOkWmhPgb

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025

Given that the guidance also states that it isn’t essential to provide gender-neutral facilities at all, this could leave trans people without public toilets. However, the 2010 Equality Act 2010 protects transgender men and women from discrimination. 

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