Over 2,100 parkrunners and supporters rally against legal threat over trans policy
Parkrun attendees describe event as ‘fun’ and ‘inclusive’ despite anti-trans backlash (Getty Images)
More than 2,100 parkrunners and supporters have written to MPs urging the UK government to defend trans-inclusive community organisations after the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) threatened action against organisations like Parkrun.
The ADF, which is also known for its role in the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade in the United States, has sent letters to 10 organisations claiming they are in breach of the law.
ADF claims inclusive participation policies breach UK law following the Supreme Court’s April 2025 ruling on trans rights. In letters sent to multiple organisations, the group argued that allowing trans people to take part in events in line with their gender identity fails to protect women and girls. The organisation warned it “will not hesitate to pursue all legal remedies” if Parkrun does not change course.
The backlash has sparked a growing counter-campaign led by the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance, which says anti-trans movements are trying to import “Trump-style politics” into the UK. Supporters are calling on the government to clarify protections for inclusive organisations and resist pressure campaigns targeting trans participation in public life. “Anti-rights movements won’t stop with trans people, and we must hold back the tide,” the group said.
Parkrun has long maintained that its events are “open to all”, with policies welcoming trans participants and recording gender rather than sex. As debate over trans inclusion in sport intensifies globally, campaigners say the dispute could have major implications for the future of accessible and welcoming community-led spaces across the UK.
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