Rape Crisis Centre To Launch Single Sex-only Meetings After Trans Row

A rape situation kindness astatine nan bosom of a statement complete whether trans women tin be support sessions for women has announced it is launching a caller work for women which will exclude transgender participants.

In 2022 a female known arsenic "Sarah" told BBC News she was suing Brighton-based Survivors' Network because she felt uncomfortable talking astir her ain maltreatment successful beforehand of a trans female who had joined nan group.

The charity, which provides support services for survivors of intersexual unit successful Sussex, says it will now tally a caller group for biologic women who unrecorded arsenic women, alongside its existing meetings that let trans and non-binary group to return part.

Earlier this year, a UK Supreme Court ruling said single-sex services should beryllium reserved for group of nan aforesaid biologic sex.

Sarah told nan BBC successful 2002 she had been sexually abused arsenic a kid and past raped erstwhile successful her 20s.

She had approached nan group for support aft coming into interaction pinch nan man she said had attacked her.

"I was uncovering it really difficult to cope," she said astatine nan time.

She said she had recovered nan sessions adjuvant and supportive astatine first. She called them a "safe space".

However, a trans female - a biologic antheral who identified arsenic a female - started attending nan support group for victims of intersexual maltreatment and assault.

Sarah says nan trans female presented arsenic typically antheral successful nan measurement she looked and dressed, and Sarah felt uncomfortable successful her presence.

"I don't spot men because I was raped by a man," she said astatine nan time. "I don't needfully spot that men are ever who they opportunity they are."

Sarah stopped attending nan sessions.

At nan time, Survivors' Network said trans women were invited into each its "women-only spaces", and that it would take sides nan ineligible declare being brought against it.

Now, successful a associated announcement, Sarah, whose online personality is Sarah Surviving, and nan Survivors' Network, opportunity they person travel to an statement earlier nan lawsuit was owed to spell to proceedings successful September.

The caller group for biologic women will exclude trans men (born female but identifying arsenic men) and trans women (born antheral but identifying arsenic women) arsenic good arsenic non-binary group (who don't place arsenic either men aliases women).

The connection says nan caller adjacent support group successful Brighton for biologic women will tally successful summation to nan original group that allows trans and non-binary group to attend.

"For immoderate biologic women, specified a abstraction is imperative for their treatment and acknowledges their trauma," constitute nan charity's co-chairs connected its website.

The caller work will tally arsenic a 12-month aviator scheme, funded by nan Office of Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

On X, Sarah Surviving wrote "This is nan champion imaginable result for intersexual unit survivors successful our city."