What is a woman? London’s Supreme Court to answer

The Supreme Court of London is set to decide what defines a woman, a matter that has become an international debate.

Specifically, the British high court will decide whether transgender people in Scotland, England and Wales are protected under the 2010 Equality Act, which bans discrimination based on characteristics such as sex and gender reassignment, the BBC reported.

An advocacy group called For Women Scotland filed a challenge to law, arguing that it should apply only to people who are born female. The Scottish government argued that the law requires gender recognition based on an person’s birth certificate, which can be changed.

A lower court in Scotland ruled against the advocacy group, which appealed to the high court.

A decision is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Meanwhile in the United States, the Supreme Court has faced petitions to consider whether it’s lawful to ban transgender women from women’s facilities and sports.

Currently, the justices are deciding whether to hear a case out of West Virginia over a law that requires boys and girls to compete in sports based on their biological sex.

That case is West Virginia v. BPJ. It would take four of the nine justices to vote in favor of hearing the case for oral arguments to be scheduled.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the newest member of the court, made headlines during her 2022 Senate confirmation hearing when she was asked to define “woman.”

“Provide a definition for the word ’woman,’” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican.

“I can’t,” Justice Jackson responded. “I am not a biologist.”