Many people have been celebrating after the Supreme Court’s declaration that the definition of a woman will indeed be based on biological sex. Some have heralded it as signifying the end of radical trans ideology, or even the end of woke politics altogether. All this remains to be seen. What we certainly won’t see, however, is the language of emotion in politics finally being put to bed, as reason and common sense make a welcome return to our lives. In fact, the tyranny of feelings is likely to get much worse.
Before Wednesday’s landmark ruling, radical trans activists had invariably deployed feelings and emotive words to advance their cause. They have argued long and hard that they only want ‘acceptance’, fear ‘exclusion’, or feel ‘hurt’ or ‘offended’ at the failure of society and other people to acknowledge their beliefs – both their personal belief in who they are, and their philosophical belief that individuals can literally change sex.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in