Virgin Active has updated its policies to restrict female changing rooms to those of biological sex, following legal pressure from television presenter Michelle Dewberry. The gym chain, which operates 230 clubs across eight countries, informed members on Friday morning via email that changes were required to comply with the law. Solicitors acting for Ms Dewberry threatened legal action under the Equality Act after she reported encountering a man dressed as a woman in her local female changing room earlier this year. The charity Sex Matters supported her claim.
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The new rules mark a shift from the gym’s previous “trans inclusion” policy, which allowed trans women and non-binary individuals to use female changing facilities. Virgin Active stated in its member communication that it must comply with the Supreme Court ruling in April, which confirmed that the term “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex rather than gender identity. The decision affects any organisation offering services to the public, including schools, hospitals, gyms, and shops.
The email also clarified that members must now use changing rooms and bathroom facilities corresponding to their biological sex. Virgin Active emphasised that it is awaiting detailed guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to help implement the changes. The update follows interim guidance from the commission and aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling, which has already caused debate among trans rights activists, some of whom have vowed to challenge the guidance.
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The move has sparked further legal and public controversy. Trans rights campaigners argue the guidance infringes on the rights of transgender individuals, while the Good Law Project has announced plans to challenge the EHRC in court, claiming that the commission’s advice violates trans people’s privacy. Meanwhile, Virgin Active maintains that the changes are required by law and applies only to its UK clubs, which serve 1.2 million members.
