Jess O'Thomson

🏛️ One year on from the ruling that upended Trans+ rights 365 days ago, the Supreme Court ruled that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 means “biological sex” - with huge consequences for the Trans+ community. Today, @jessothomson looks back on that original analysis. “It wasn’t a result that was anticipated, and I remember literally gasping as the Supreme Court read out its decision. I realised what was coming next. “The decision caused panic, and the immediate discourse was driven by anti-trans voices and non-experts, leading to confusion and misunderstanding. “Working at pace for @wearequeeraf_ , I turned a long, complex judgment into something a terrified Trans+ community could begin to understand. “Shockingly, a year on, I can still stand by everything I wrote.” 

📩 In this weekend’s newsletter, three Trans+ journalists break down what’s changed since the ruling and what comes next. Subscribe via the link in our bio.

On Trans Day of Visibility, we are celebrating Christine Goodwin and the historic victory she won at the European Court of Human Rights which led to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. However, in recent years these hard won rights have been eroded. Many in power and the media have used trans people as a political football. This is an emergency. We must come together to defend the rights and freedoms of trans people. These slides were based on @JessOThomson 's Milestones article for @wearequeeraf_ - a series on the legal cases, political changes and campaigns that have shaped the rights of trans people in the UK today. Head to QueerAF to read it in full.

🏳️‍⚧️ Goodwin VS the UK - the pivotal case that is being misunderstood 20 years ago, a landmark decision at the European Court of Human Rights changed the lives of Trans+ people in the UK and Europe. It was a pivotal moment in Trans+ history – but now its significance is being erased. The high court's recent decision that dismissed the need for service providers to implement a bathroom ban, but said they could be lawful in the workplace, relied on a common misunderstanding of Goodwin VS the UK. That case, decided at a European level, is likely to play a significant role in the coming years. Tomorrow, @jessothomson will explain why to 10K readers - join them. Milestones is an editorially independent series from @WeAreQueerAF_ on the legal cases, political changes and campaigns that have shaped the rights of trans, non-binary, and intersex people in the UK today funded by @TransHistoryWeek , first edition, March 4th, 2pm GMT. Sign up now with the link in our bio to understand just how the hell we got here – so you can fight back. #QueerAF #TransHistory #Milestones

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans+ rights - how in the hell did we get here? Milestones is an editorially independent series from @WeAreQueerAF_ on the legal cases, political changes and campaigns that have shaped the rights of trans, non-binary, and intersex people in the UK today. Written by some of the UK’s most respected Trans+ journalists, including @ludovicparsons , @jessothomson , sasha_baker15, @miss_diamond_rivlin and funded by @TransHistoryWeek , it is launching in March 2026. Sign up now with the link in our bio to understand just how the hell we got here – so you can fight back. #QueerAF #TransHistory #Milestones

Love Queers 100 : Jess O’Thomson // @jessothomson (They/Them)⚡️ Jess O’Thomson is a Legal researcher, writer, journalist, and campaigner – trans Rights Lead at Good Law Project. #LoveQueers100 #Twenty25Trailblazers #LoveQueers

🚩 Opposition is mounting: Digital IDs could out Trans+ people New digital IDs in the UK could be "catastrophic" for Trans+ people, who could be forced to out themselves when showing their ID - even if they don't include a sex marker on them. Keir Starmer announced the new scheme at a gathering of centre-left parties at the Global Progress Action conference. He said the move was designed to 'crack down' on people who don't have the right to work in the UK getting jobs. If the UK implements these IDs, it would join countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Arab Emirates, China, Greece, France and Afghanistan. Read the full explainer by @jamie_wareham on the @WeAreQueerAF_ platform now 👉 Instagram slides are never enough to do a story justice. But they are a launchpad for knowledge. Understand this story in-depth with our weekly newsletter where this was from. 🏳️‍🌈 QueerAF is a non-profit IMPRESS regulated publisher supporting queer creatives to build and grow their media careers. 🌐 Read this story in full, with sources, on our platform now. ✉️ @wearequeeraf_ ’s newsletter helps you to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday. Skip the doomscrolling and let us gather the queer news for you. Hit the links in our bio. #QueerAF #Explainer

I have just found out I was nominated for – and have won – an independent journalism award for my reporting following the Supreme Court decision in For Women Scotland with @wearequeeraf_ "A masterful distillation of a complex court ruling, published under the ominous duress of time constraints and the ruling’s consequence, and for the affected communities. A brilliant coming together of public interest journalism, explainer journalism, and court reporting" Not a bad review. Thank you!

For me, this London Trans+ Pride was about fighting back. I have been working relentlessly since the Supreme Court judgment in April to find ways to protect my community's human rights. The incredibly talented @ajstetson took these photographs of me outside of the Supreme Court. I will keep fighting for our community as long as there is breath in my body.

“We’ve got a government who are chasing reform to the right.” @jessothomson Trans rights are under threat. Harmful laws must not be passed quietly. We need to take action, now!! That means putting pressure on our local MPs, holding Keir Starmer to account, and making sure no anti-trans legislation goes through unnoticed. 📢 This week’s episode is essential listening. Find it wherever you get your podcasts and share it widely. Trans lives depend on it. 🏳️‍⚧️✊ #TheGuiltyFeminist #TransRightsAreHumanRights #ProtectTransLives #LGBTQIA #Politics #Feminism #KeirStarmer

🎬 Did the UK just create a third sex in law? In For Women Scotland, the Supreme Court said “sex” means birth sex - even if you’ve got a Gender Recognition Certificate. That means: ⚖️ Trans people may be excluded from women’s spaces 💸 Can’t bring some equal pay claims 🚽 Might be forced to use the wrong toilet Welcome to the “intermediate zone” - where you’re not fully protected in law as a man or woman. But the ECHR says rights must be practical and effective, not theoretical and illusory. This isn’t dignity. It’s legal erasure. Please help us push back against the EHRC’s current position we consider to be unlawful as a matter of international human rights law. Write to your MP. Write to the Prime Minister, or the new Head of EHRC, or the head of Women and Equalities Committee to have your voice heard. 📖 Oscar Davies and Jess O’Thomson wrote about it with for the DLA: A Third Sex: Returning to an Intermediate Zone. Link in bio. #transrights #forwomenscotland #legalrecognition #echr #equalityact #humanrights #intermediatezone #humanrights #equalitylaw

@jessothomson and @becomingjude from Trans+ Solidarity Alliance were invited to chat to @dfdubz on the @theguiltyfeminist about the what’s happening with trans rights in the UK right now, how the bathroom ban is set to become law behind closed doors, and what you can do to help stop that from happening! 🔗 Link in bio Tune in to Trans Solidarity Hosted by Deborah Frances-White with special guests, Head of Policy and Legal Affairs Jess O’Thomson and Founder of Trans+ Solidarity Alliance Jude Guaitamacchi. Recorded 29 July 2025 at Tileyard Studios. Released 4 August. The Guilty Feminist theme composed by Mark Hodge.

London Trans+ Pride made history yesterday (Saturday, 26 July) as over 100,000 attendees marched through central London, obliterating last year's world record of 60,000 and cementing its status as the largest Trans Pride event in history. The march, themed Existence and Resistance, brought together trans+ people and allies in an unprecedented show of solidarity at a critical time for the community. You can dive into the full story over at ▶️scenemag.co.uk and while you're there, why not give us a follow on Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and also, our new YouTube channel, to stay in the loop? #linkinbio 📸@thefoxfisher #lgbtqnews #londontranspride #transpridelondon #existenceandresistance #gscene #scene #lgbtqnews #sceneyoutube #newyoutubechannel #pridecommunityfoundation #unitedinpride #scenemagazine #gaybrighton #brightonpride #freedomtolive #transpride #lgbtq #queer #protectthedolls #lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqrights #brightongay #lgbtqia #trans #equality #gayfollow #culturalgbtq #lgbtqsupport #queercommunity #gaystagram