Sexual assault charity to exclude trans survivors from single-sex service after Supreme Court ruling

A sexual assault charity is excluding trans women survivors from a new single-sex service in the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman.

Warning: Mentions of sexual abuse and child abuse.

Survivors’ Network, a charity which supports survivors of sexual violence and abuse in Sussex, has announced that a new service will be inaccessible to trans and non-binary survivors.

It follows a series of trans-exclusive policies since the UK Supreme Court ruling, including toilet rules at universities, the FA’s ban on trans women, and police strip-search guidance. The Court decided that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, and is therefore trans-exclusive.

The decision to exclude trans and non-binary sexual assault survivors from the new service comes as part of an agreement between Survivors Network and a woman known on social media as “Sarah Surviving”. 

“Sarah” sued the Brighton-based charity for discrimination in 2022 “because it refused to provide a women-only peer support group”, she wrote on a crowdfunding page to support the case. 

She told BBC News at the time that she was suing the charity because she felt uncomfortable discussing her sexual abuse in front of a trans woman who joined the group. She told the outlet she was subjected to sexual abuse in her childhood and was raped in adulthood.

“I don’t trust men because I was raped by a man,” she told the publication. “I don’t necessarily trust that men are always who they say they are.”

At the time of the case, Survivors’ Network stood by the trans community and said trans women were welcome into its “women-only spaces” and would defend the legal claim. It was set to go to trial in September this year.

However, Survivors’ Network and Sarah have now stated in a “Legal Challenge Update” that they have since come to an agreement in a outside of court, and will run a new peer support group solely for cisgender women. It will run alongside its original group, which also allows trans and non-binary attendees.

The joint statement on Survivors’ Network’s site (28 July) reads: “Survivors’ Network is proud to be providing a new peer support group for biological women, and we are collaborating with Sarah Surviving, along with other women survivors about this additional space. 

“This group will be open to biological women who identify as women and biological women who do not have a gender identity. We understand for some biological women such a space is imperative for their healing and acknowledges their trauma.

“This group will run alongside our existing provision.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow through this process, and we remain dedicated to serving all survivors with compassion, integrity and respect,” the statement concluded.

Sarah wrote on X: “This is the best possible outcome for sexual violence survivors in our city. The new single sex group is an additional option for women who need it and does NOT replace the existing provision.”

The new service will run for 12 months as a pilot scheme, which is funded by the Office of Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

If this story has affected you, call Mindline Trans+ on Fridays 8 pm-11 pm on 0300 330 5468. For emotional support, Mindline is available 24/7 on 01823 276 892.

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