Progressive and Masorti leaders reassure trans members following Supreme Court ruling

A landmark Supreme Court decision last week, which ruled that the term “woman” in the 2010 Equality Act refers to biological sex rather than gender identity, has prompted reactions from the Jewish community, with some Progressive and Masorti leaders reaffirming their support for trans and non-binary members.

Senior figures in Reform and Liberal Judaism said the ruling earlier this month had intensified fears among trans Jews and stressed the importance of maintaining inclusive spaces.

In a joint statement, Rabbi Anna Wolfson, co-chair of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors, and Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, co-chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors, said: “It is vital that our Jewish communities remain safe and inclusive spaces and continue to support our trans and queer members, who will now be at greater risk of discrimination, harm, mental health challenges and suicide.

“We reject all notions that trans rights are anything other than human rights. This ruling not only affects our transgender members and their families and friends; it impacts all of us.”

(L-R) Susan Smith and Marion Calder, directors of 'For Women Scotland' arrive at the Supreme Court. They challenged the definition of "woman" in Scotland, particularly concerning its application to the Equality Act 2010 (Photo: Getty Images)Getty Images

Masorti Judaism also issued a statement in their newsletter to members and on social media in response to the ruling, emphasising its commitment to inclusion. “We want to be clear: trans people are sacred, beloved members of our communities.”

The movement added: “We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe in our synagogues and can participate fully in Jewish life. Our understanding of Jewish tradition does not require a binary view of gender nor a simplistic one of biological sex. We are committed to building a movement where all are welcome and to treating our trans and non-binary members with the love, respect, and dignity they deserve.”

The statement affirmed that Masorti synagogues “will continue to welcome trans Jews” and that “the Supreme Court’s ruling will not impact this”.

Masorti rabbis Jeremy Gordon and Natasha Mann of New London Synagogue also published their own message on social media, acknowledging that many in the trans community “will be feeling pain and fear” in the wake of the decision.

They said they opposed "any action which increases or threatens to increase pain to any person who does not identify with their birth-assigned gender. We do not accept that Jewish law considers that gender is binary.

“We are proud to support members who are trans, non-binary and/or transitioning with the love and support they, as humans created in the image of a God, whose gender is also non-binary, deserve.”

Referring to the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, the central authority on Halachah (Jewish law and tradition) within Conservative Judaism in America, the rabbis affirmed that a trans person “is to be recognised as their publicly declared gender and to be addressed by their publicly declared name and pronouns”, including in marriage ceremonies that align with “publicly lived gender identities”. They added that medical treatments to “alleviate the symptoms of people with gender dysphoria” were “permissible”, excluding “conversion therapy” as it aims to change someone’s gender identity.

Trans rights protesters wave flags and hold placards in Parliament Square in London on April 19, 2025, in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on how to define a woman. (Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

Social media reactions to the Masorti movement’s and New London’s posts revealed a range of views.

Some people criticised what they saw as a lack of balance, with one Facebook user accusing Masorti UK of making a “one-sided post” and urging the movement to “celebrate and create safe spaces” for those with “traditional views on gender”.

Another wrote: “If we're issuing statements following Supreme Court rulings (have we ever done that before?), we should extend heartfelt congratulations to the women who won their case and restored their right to single-sex spaces".

But others welcomed the rabbis’ approach. One person wrote: “Thank you for not joining in with the hysteria and fear-mongering I have seen elsewhere. It's entirely possible to respect and protect the rights of women without discriminating against or disrespecting any other members.”

Under Rabbi Gordon and Rabbi Mann’s post, a similar discussion evolved. 

Queer Jewish women and non-binary group, Sapphic Shabbat, responded to the ruling with a statement of solidarity with their trans members, calling the ruling “upsetting”.

“Sapphic Shabbat is inclusive. There are trans, non binary, and intersex people in our community. The safety and joy of our space comes from the mutual respect and protection we give one another,” the group told the JC.

“Our space benefits from the presence and contribution of trans women. The Supreme Court ruling will never change that, and it is disappointing that some are celebrating the outcome in a divisive way and using it to further justify the mistreatment and discrimination of trans people.”

A spokesperson added: “We want to say clearly: we stand with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities. You are seen, valued, and never alone. Our spaces will always be inclusive, affirming and rooted in solidarity.”

Meanwhile, Rabbi Jonathan Romain, emeritus rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. Writing in a letter to the JC, he praised the judgment for “both offering clarity in law and balancing the needs of all parties”.

Writing in a personal capacity, he suggested the ruling would bring reassurance to Jewish women seeking access to single-sex spaces, such as women’s centres and to those competing in sports.

At the same time, he was reassured that Jewish people who have transitioned would be “protected from discrimination or harassment” under the Equality Act 2010. 

“As in all clashes between two rights, there may still be difficult situations, but mutually acceptable solutions can be explored now that assumptions have been replaced by facts,” he wrote.

Rabbi Romain also noted the ruling’s potential implications for religious practice. He said the biological definition of sex would likely determine inclusion in a minyan in Orthodox contexts, while Progressive synagogues “may choose to accept a person’s self-identity for reasons of pastoral sensitivity”.

He said the ruling would now allow other decisions to be made, “from single-sex toilets in synagogue buildings to staff in Jewish care homes. The work to establish sensible protocols will now begin.”

The United Synagogue and S&P Sephardi Community declined to comment when contacted by the JC. In 2018, the Chief Rabbi released advice on the wellbeing of LGBT+ pupils at Orthodox schools, which stated schools must have a “zero tolerance” approach to bullying. The report said: “We must be ever-mindful of the mitzva to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.”