The three Scottish women who led a landmark legal battle over the definition of a woman say they’ve been flooded with vile abuse and death threats since their Supreme Court victory last week.
Marion Calder, Susan Smith, and Trina Budge from the group For Women Scotland spent three years fighting to have the legal definition of “woman” recognised as biological, and the UK’s highest court agreed. But what should’ve been a moment of triumph has come with an avalanche of hate, reported the Daily Record.
Their group’s inbox has been hit with sickening messages like “You’re a group of disgusting murderers and deserve death,” and “God will rip you from your family one day and nobody will mourn you.” One even read: “Your inhumanity makes me vomit.”
Marion, 55, a single mum from Edinburgh, told The Sunday Times: “Sadly, it is almost inevitable that women who speak up for our rights will be threatened by angry men. It’s a tale as old as the hills.” She added, “Ironically, this lot think they are on the side of ‘progress’, ‘kindness’ and ‘human rights’, but they have no issue using the most dehumanising, sexist abuse or threatening the most extreme violence.”
Despite the threats, Marion said the support has been overwhelming, with kind messages pouring in: “Many of which have brought us to tears.”
Susan, 53, a mum-of-three and former financial adviser, said the hostility has become part of their everyday lives. “It would never occur to us to send messages like this or to call our opponents ugly. But we get this every day.”
The trio first met through Mumsnet back in 2018 and started campaigning as the Scottish Government pushed ahead with the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, allowing self-ID and lowering the age to legally transition to 16. That bill passed in 2022 but was later blocked by then PM Rishi Sunak.
Their case focused on a crucial point: whether the Equality Act 2010 says a trans woman with a gender recognition certificate is legally the same as a biological female. The Scottish Government said yes. For Women Scotland said no.
In February last year, they were given the green light to take it to the Supreme Court. Marion said they knew it was a gamble, but added, “even if we lost, it would show that the law currently makes no sense.”
In the end, the court ruled in their favour, stating that while the Gender Recognition Act protects trans people from discrimination, the Equality Act defines a woman as a biological adult female.
Even with the court win, the backlash has been fierce. Protesters gathered in central London on Saturday to challenge the ruling. But Marion, Susan and Trina say this is just the beginning — after a well-earned party.
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