Your Weekly Wrap Up | 28 Apr - 4 May 💦
From endometriosis to trans rights — the stories shaping sex, rights, and health this week.
Self-care note: This newsletter talks about homophobia, transphobia, abortion, and gender based violence, among other things. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
England and Scotland ban transgender women from women’s sports ⚽
The Football Associations in both England and Scotland will ban transgender women from playing in women’s football, citing the recent Supreme Court ruling that defines “sex” in the Equality Act as biological.
The Football Association (FA) in England will implement the ban on June 1, with England Netball following in September. The England and Wales Cricket Board is expected to do the same shortly after.
Until now, the FA had allowed transgender women to compete if they maintained a certain testosterone level. But following new legal advice, they say this policy had to be “fundamentally altered.”
“This will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love,” the FA acknowledged, adding they’re contacting those affected.
Advocacy groups like Sex Matters praised the move, calling it “long overdue,” while LGBTQ+ organisations, including Stonewall, strongly criticised it as premature and harmful to inclusion in sport.
Source: The Guardian
MPs set to vote on decriminalising abortion in England and Wales 🗳️
The UK Parliament is expected to vote on decriminalising abortion in England and Wales this summer, with Labour MPs Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy reportedly working on proposals to change the law.
Abortion in England, Wales and Scotland is regulated by the 1967 Abortion Act and is legal up to 23 weeks and 6 days gestation, or beyond in case of severe foetal anomaly or risk to the life of the pregnant person. Outside these circumstances, abortion may be considered a criminal offence. In recent years, several people have been charged with abortion-related offences.
“Vulnerable women are being investigated and prosecuted under this cruel and outdated law, and I believe this must change as a matter of urgency”, MP Tonia Antonazzi said.
Two different proposals had already been submitted last year, but were never discussed because of the general election.
Source: The Guardian
UK judge appeals to European court over Supreme Court ruling on "biological sex" ⚖️
Former judge Victoria McCloud is taking the UK to the European Court of Human Rights after the Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of “sex” in the Equality Act referred exclusively to the sex assigned at birth.
The first openly transgender judge in the UK, McCloud argues the UK has breached Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees a fair and public hearing to everyone.
“The basis is that the supreme court refused to hear me, or my evidence, to provide them with information about the impact on those trans people affected by the judgment and failed to give any reasons,” McCloud said.
Source: The Guardian
Hundreds of UK film and TV professionals sign pro-trans open letter 🎬
After thousands of UK writers expressed their support for the trans community after the recent Supreme Court ruling, many UK film and television workers also signed an open letter to express their solidarity.
Published on 30 April, the letter has so far been signed by over 1,300 professionals, including well-known actors such as Nicola Coughlan, Emma Watson, Ncuti Gatwa and Aimee Lou Wood.
“We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary, and intersex people living in the UK,” the letter reads. “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”.
Source: Them
New pill for endometriosis approved in England 💊
A new daily pill for endometriosis has been approved for use on the NHS in England. The tablet, called linzagolix, will soon be available to people who have tried other medical or surgical treatments.
The pill works by blocking hormones that contribute to the symptoms of endometriosis, and in clinical trials linzagolix has been shown to reduce pelvic pain and painful periods.
This is the second pill approved in the last two months. The first one was approved in March, and it is called relugolix combination therapy. The main difference between the two tablets is that the new pill will require additional add-back treatment to manage side effects.
Source: BBC News
Endometriosis linked to autoimmune diseases, according to new research 🔬
A study published in Human Reproduction found that people with endometriosis have a higher risk of 30-80% of developing autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and coeliac disease, and autoinflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis and psoriasis. This is potentially due to a genetic link between endometriosis and immune conditions.
The study, described by the researchers as the largest so far, used data from the UK Biobank and analysed over 8,000 endometriosis cases and 64,000 immunological disease cases.
The researchers hope the new findings will help explore new therapeutic approaches for both endometriosis and its associated immune conditions.
Source: University of Oxford
Poland abolishes its last “LGBT-free” zone 🏳️🌈
In a major win for LGBTQ+ rights, Poland has officially abolished its last so-called “LGBT-free” zone.
Back in 2020, more than 100 municipalities — about a third of the country — had declared themselves free of “LGBT ideology,” following a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from right-wing politicians. But after legal challenges and funding cuts from the European Commission, officials in Łańcut have now repealed the final remaining zone.
Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court had previously ruled the zones violated citizens' dignity and rights, and recent surveys show growing support for LGBTQ+ equality, with 67% of Poles now backing same-sex marriage.
While this marks a huge step forward, activists say the fight for full equality in Poland is far from over.
Source: Metro UK
Turkey faces backlash over C-section ban 🚫
Turkey’s Health Minister has defended a new regulation banning elective Caesarean sections in private hospitals, despite widespread public criticism.
The ban, published on April 19, is part of a government campaign promoting vaginal births as “natural” and “normal.” Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu argued that C-sections should only be performed when medically necessary, pointing to Turkey’s 61% C-section rate — the highest among OECD countries.
However, women’s rights groups and opposition politicians warn that the policy interferes with reproductive choice. Public anger grew after football players in Turkey’s Süper Lig carried a banner declaring, “What’s natural is normal birth,” during a match.
Critics say decisions about childbirth should remain between women and their doctors, not shaped by political messaging.
Source: Turkish Minute
Eurovision 2025: new policy bans Pride flags for artists 🎤
Eurovision has introduced a new flag policy for the 2025 edition: the audience will be allowed to show any flag and banner permitted by Swiss law, including the previously banned Palestinian flag.
However, the artists will have to adhere to stricter rules. They will only be allowed to bring the “official flags of the country they are representing in the contest” in official Eurovision spaces, which means that the Pride flags, the Palestinian flag and the EU flag are banned.
LGBTQIA+ organisations strongly criticised this decision, describing it as an attempt to restrict LGBTQIA+ identities and to weaken the spirit of Eurovision, which has always been an important space for the community.
Source: CNN
That’s all for this week’s wrap-up, but there’s plenty happening beyond the headlines. From workshops to book clubs, here’s what’s coming up across Scotland.
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Spicy (and cuddly) events happening soon🌶️
Pleasure Club: Self-Pleasure Edition. 16 May, Edinburgh.
Sex Positive Reading Group (18+). 27 May, Glasgow.
Nathan H. Lents: The Sexual Evolution. Book launch. 3 June, Edinburgh.