More than 400 members of the UK film and television industry have signed an open letter voicing concern over the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling that defines “woman” under the Equality Act as referring to biological sex. The letter states that the decision, issued on April 17, poses a threat to trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals working in the industry and beyond.
Notable signatories include Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), Harris Dickinson (Babygirl), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Paapa Essiedu (The Outrun), and director Molly Manning Walker (How to Have Sex). The initiative was started by Sid Strickland, a development producer at Motive Pictures, and script editor Jack Casey.
The letter expresses support for communities affected by the ruling and urges cultural institutions and industry groups to take public steps toward ensuring protection and safety for trans individuals. Organisations addressed include BAFTA, the BBC, the BFI, Channel 4, Bectu, Writers’ Guild, Directors UK, and Picturehouse.
The text reads, “We the undersigned film and television professionals stand in solidarity with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities who have been impacted by the Supreme Court ruling on April 17. We wish to add our voices to the 2000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community published last week and call upon members of our industry and cultural bodies to join us.”
The ruling, which was unanimous, clarifies that the Equality Act defines sex as binary and rooted in biology. New guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission now allows trans women to be barred from using women’s facilities in locations such as restaurants, shops, and hospitals. Critics of the decision say it legitimizes the exclusion of trans people from public and professional spaces.
The letter says, “The Supreme Court’s ruling that, under the Equality Act, ‘woman’ is defined by biological sex, states that ‘the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man’. We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK.”
It continues by urging the industry to acknowledge its role in shaping understanding and public attitudes. “Film and television are powerful tools for empathy and education, and we believe passionately in the ability of the screen to change hearts and minds. This is our opportunity to be on the right side of history.”
Within 24 hours of release, the letter gathered more than 400 signatories. Additional names include writer Jack Rooke (Big Boys), actor Faye Marsay (Adolescence), and writer-director Kate Herron (The Last of Us). It has also received support from executives at several companies, including New Pictures, Sister Pictures, Balloon Entertainment, Motive Pictures, World Productions, Red Planet Pictures, Federation Stories, and Objective Fiction.
The original court case involved For Women Scotland and the Scottish government, and focused on how legal sex is applied in the context of public appointments. The justices ruled that gender recognition certificates do not alter the definition of sex under the Equality Act, reinforcing the legal use of biological categories.
Reaction to the ruling has reflected wider public debate. While some have supported the decision as a matter of legal clarity, others argue it places trans people in a more vulnerable position. Author J.K. Rowling, who has regularly spoken against policies that accommodate gender self-identification, posted her approval of the decision on social media following the court’s announcement.
Those behind the letter have not released the full list of signatories publicly, but organizers say the count continues to grow. The effort follows an earlier open letter from UK writers released the previous week, which has now surpassed 2,000 signatures. That letter also criticized the legal interpretation and called for cultural institutions to act.
