Following last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court, there were concerns among activists that transgender individuals might hesitate to venture out in public due to fears of harassment.

However, on Saturday in London, that anxiety was nowhere to be seen. A massive gathering of trans and non-binary individuals, along with families and allies waving flags in light blue, white, and pink hues, filled Parliament Square to express their outrage over the judges’ decision.

The turnout appeared to catch both organizers and law enforcement off guard. Protesters from a rapidly formed coalition of 24 groups formed a circle around the barriers enclosing the grass, where speeches began. Yet as the crowd swelled, a woman wearing a shirt emblazoned with “Nobody knows I’m a lesbian” dashed through with her dog, filling the square to capacity. “This is a remarkable turnout, and the sense of unity and solidarity is powerful,” remarked Jamie Strudwick, one of the event organizers. “It’s truly unprecedented; I’ve never witnessed anything like it.”

Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court determined that the term ‘woman’ within the Equality Act 2010 refers exclusively to biological sex, excluding transgender women with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC).

This decision was welcomed by groups such as For Women Scotland, a gender-critical organization supported by JK Rowling, which argues that permitting transgender women in single-sex spaces jeopardizes the safety of cisgender women.

In his ruling, Lord Hodge clarified that trans individuals continue to be shielded from discrimination and harassment under the Equality Act. Nonetheless, many trans people have expressed feelings of confusion, fear, and anger, with some believing it will be increasingly difficult to address unfair treatment and receive necessary support from institutions that are supposed to assist them.

In response to the ruling, Kishwer Falkner, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, announced plans to establish a new statutory code of practice by the summer. This code aims to guide public bodies in modifying their approach toward women and trans individuals. She indicated a need for the NHS to alter its regulations regarding single-sex wards, asserting that her organization would actively follow up if these changes were not implemented.

Other bodies have already begun to take steps. The British Transport Police stated that same-sex searches during custody would be carried out “based on the biological birth sex of the detainee.”

“In the past week, I’ve had to deal with four suicide attempts or threats from young people,” shared Oscar Hoyle, who founded the Blossom LGBT community interest group in 2018. He recounted spending three hours on the phone with an 18-year-old transgender girl in crisis before police finally arrived. Blossom supports around 400 individuals aged 16 to 30 from various LGBTQ backgrounds, with approximately two-thirds identifying as trans or non-binary.

“Regardless of where you fall in this discussion, no one should feel that life is not worth living simply because they belong to a marginalized community,” Hoyle emphasized.

Amid the demonstrators outside the Parliament were Awsten Atkinson, a 23-year-old trans man, and their partner, 19-year-old trans woman Daisy Watt. “My initial reaction to the ruling was sheer horror,” Watt stated. “Seeing the news made me question how we’ve regressed so dramatically. Just a decade ago, we were making significant strides, and now it feels like we’re in reverse.”

Atkinson expressed feeling “devastated and in disbelief,” questioning, “Why is it that people care so much about how we choose to live our lives when it doesn’t impact them? This issue is framed as a feminist fight, yet the definitions they set around womanhood reduce women to mere objects, focusing solely on physical attributes.”

The couple expressed dismay at the BTP’s decision, noting, “With so many British Transport Police officers under investigation for sexual harassment, this opens the door for them to justify searching someone based on their belief about that person’s trans identity, and the law protects that.”

As young protesters waved flags and held up banners in the green space, Watt felt “reassured to see a community willing to stand up for what is right.” Atkinson remarked, “While walking here, I felt a surge of joy and said to Watt and her friends, ‘Look at everyone—we can always rely on our community to come together.’”

Nearby, under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, two trans women in their twenties voiced their concerns over the UK potentially aligning itself more closely with the situation in the US.

“When bathroom bans were implemented there, it affected not just trans individuals but cis individuals too; accusations led to people being forced out,” one noted.

Another added, “What I observe is a troubling form of trans misogyny—where women legally aren’t recognized as women, and men will always be recognized as men. It’s frightening.”

“In public spaces, there is a palpable shift. It seems we’re regressing. The protection of the law feels increasingly distant,” expressed one of the women.

Ann-Marie Still attended the protest with her sister and niece. Upon hearing the news, she felt both anger and disappointment toward the system. “I immediately reached out to my trans friends and family to remind them, ‘You are loved and valid,’” she said.

“Most adults overlook the youth,” added Dani, who was there in support of her trans sister. “Many—from parents to older generations—struggle to live authentically.”

During the protest, the police initiated an investigation after graffiti was found on seven statues, including that of suffragette Millicent Fawcett. Scotland Yard indicated that officers were on-site but did not witness the vandalism, and no arrests had been made, although inquiries were ongoing, as stated by Ch Supt Stuart Bell, who oversaw protest security.

Polack mentioned she wouldn’t alter her behavior due to the ruling. “I can go to the gym, enter changing rooms, and blend in because I resemble every other woman there.”

“There are a few who recognize my past, and they are accepting, while the rest can’t tell the difference. So why should things change? There’s no justification for that.” A concern for Polack is whether the ruling will invalidate her gender recognition certificate. “I suspect there may be attempts to impose restrictions on changing rooms and single-sex spaces, but how can you enforce that?”