Jess O'Thomson

@jessothomson.co.uk

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Legal researcher, writer, journalist | Trans Rights Lead @ Good Law Project | PhD student @ University of Leeds Views my own. Not your lawyer; not legal advice. They/them hello@jessothomson.co.uk

Photo of some pizza
Selfie of me at Bristol Pride
Dougal from the Magic Roundabout
A screenshot of the Human Darkness/pain is power policy page on their website
For Jess O’Thomson, trans rights lead at Good Law Project, the guidance is “incredibly dangerous and likely to cause unlawful discrimination”. “It is abhorrent that despite widespread opposition this government has continued its attacks on trans human rights,” O’Thomson said. “The code is not only discriminatory, but utterly unworkable in practice – as so many organisations have repeatedly pointed out. The guidance gets the law wrong, and if service providers uncritically follow it, they may be acting unlawfully. Worse than that – they will be causing immense harm, and helping to strip trans people of their rights.”
A selfie of me in Bristol wearing a trans flag dress
Stop Labour's Bathroom Ban leaflet
Jess O'Thomson (Speaker) at Bristol Pride
A photo of Rowling and Camilla
@DocPeatfield on X - 02/02/2024 The poor young kid Brianna Ghey killers are to be sentenced today. It was a horrific sustained attack so hopefully they get a sever [sic] sentence. No one deserves what happened to this poor kid no matter how confused he was or what issues he was going through
@DocPeatfield on X - 02/02/2024 The poor young kid Brianna Ghey killers are to be sentenced today. It was a horrific sustained attack so hopefully they get a sever [sic] sentence. No one deserves what happened to this poor kid no matter how confused he was or what issues he was going through
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(2)The 40 day period specified in section 14(8)— (a)shall begin with the date on which the draft is laid before both Houses (or, if laid before each House on a different date, with the later date), and (b)shall be taken not to include a period during which— (i)Parliament is prorogued or dissolved, or (ii)both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.
A very handsome photo of the new British Prime Minister, Larry the Cat
Concept art of Woody's original design as an evil ventriloquist dummy, which was scrapped due to negative feedback, from the Woody (Toy Story) Wikipedia page
(2) “Conversion practice” means (subject to subsection (3)) any conduct carried out by a person towards an individual with the intention of— (a) causing the individual— (i) to have or not to have, (ii) to believe that they have or do not have, a sexual orientation or a particular sexual orientation; or
(9) In subsection (3) “health care services” means— (a) all forms of health care services provided for individuals, whether relating to physical or mental health, and (b) procedures that are similar to forms of medical or surgical care but are not provided in connection with a medical condition.
(b) is carried out in the course of providing health care services to the individual concerned, is not a conversion practice unless the person acts in a way that falls far below the standards reasonably expected of a person in their position.
(b) causing the individual— (i) to have or not to have, (ii) to believe that they have or do not have, a transgender identity or a particular transgender identity.
(8) The circumstances in which an individual has a transgender identity include (but are not limited to) where— (a) the individual is undergoing, is proposing to undergo or has undergone a process of gender reassignment, (b) the individual is transsexual, (c) the individual identifies as neither male nor female or as not solely male or female.
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249. It is now well-established that direct discrimination because of a protected characteristic (section 13 of the EA 2010) encompasses not only cases where the complainant affected by discrimination has the protected characteristic in question, but also where the discriminator perceives that the complainant has the characteristic, or in some other way associates the complainant with the protected characteristic. This can occur, for example, where the complainant is discriminated against because of caring responsibilities for a person with a protected characteristic, such as disability (as happened in Coleman v Attridge Law [2008] ICR 1128; EBR Attridge LLP v Coleman [2010] ICR 242) or where the complainant is treated detrimentally because it is thought that she or he has a particular protected characteristic even if they do not (English v Thomas Sanderson Blinds Ltd [2009] ICR 543, paras 37 to 40 per Sedley LJ, where the protected characteristic was sexual orientation). What is required is that the protected characteristic is a ground for the treatment in question. Terms such as "associative discrimination" and "discrimination by perception" are not a critical part of the analysis. What matters in the former is whether the treatment of the complainant was done because of the protected characteristic of the other person. In a case of perceived discrimination, the correct comparator is someone who is not perceived to have that protected characteristic: Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary v Coffey [2020] ICR 145. In Coffey the EAT (Judge David Richardson) held that where a claimant is treated less favourably on the basis of a mistaken perception that she was disabled, the correct hypothetical comparator was a person who was not perceived to be disabled and who had the same abilities as the claimant. On appeal, Underhill LJ (who gave a judgment with which the other members agreed) upheld the decision and expressly endorsed this comparator (see para 68 referring to…
249. It is now well-established that direct discrimination because of a protected characteristic (section 13 of the EA 2010) encompasses not only cases where the complainant affected by discrimination has the protected characteristic in question, but also where the discriminator perceives that the complainant has the characteristic, or in some other way associates the complainant with the protected characteristic. This can occur, for example, where the complainant is discriminated against because of caring responsibilities for a person with a protected characteristic, such as disability (as happened in Coleman v Attridge Law [2008] ICR 1128; EBR Attridge LLP v Coleman [2010] ICR 242) or where the complainant is treated detrimentally because it is thought that she or he has a particular protected characteristic even if they do not (English v Thomas Sanderson Blinds Ltd [2009] ICR 543, paras 37 to 40 per Sedley LJ, where the protected characteristic was sexual orientation). What is required is that the protected characteristic is a ground for the treatment in question. Terms such as "associative discrimination" and "discrimination by perception" are not a critical part of the analysis. What matters in the former is whether the treatment of the complainant was done because of the protected characteristic of the other person. In a case of perceived discrimination, the correct comparator is someone who is not perceived to have that protected characteristic: Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary v Coffey [2020] ICR 145. In Coffey the EAT (Judge David Richardson) held that where a claimant is treated less favourably on the basis of a mistaken perception that she was disabled, the correct hypothetical comparator was a person who was not perceived to be disabled and who had the same abilities as the claimant. On appeal, Underhill LJ (who gave a judgment with which the other members agreed) upheld the decision and expressly endorsed this comparator (see para 68 referring to…
Red Warning: Dangerous weather is expected and, if you haven't already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.
Red Warning: Dangerous weather is expected and, if you haven’t already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. You should avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.
The petition description saying the guidance was published on 21 May 2016
Adam Schwarz Starmer's leadership had plenty of problems. Unforced errors and epically failing to communicate the really good work that his govt has done. But the "worst PM ever" and fury he's faced is insanely disproportionate and shows how vulnerable Labour PMs are to disinfo campaigns if they don't ace govt.
How many signatures do EDMs attract? In an average session only six or seven EDMs reach over two hundred signatures. Around seventy or eighty get over one hundred signatures. The majority will attract only one or two signatures. There is no rule whereby the number of signatures affects the likelihood of an EDM being debated.
Screenshot of Naomi Cunningham tweets Sonia Sodha on blistering form on her Substack today (link next ). “… some of whom [identity as women] for reasons of sexual gratification.” We need to make more noise about this. We don’t know what proportion of cross-dressing men are fetishists, but we know it’s some. Reply to someone saying "it's all of them": I don’t want to over-claim. I suspect that, but I don’t know it. The point is it doesn’t really matter what the proportion is: we know damn well it’s a thing.
Cartoon Separate But Equal from the Guardian. Link to access provided alt text: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/may/22/ella-baron-on-the-ehrcs-transgender-guidance-cartoon
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Reddit comment: clear guidance? I've seen nothing but contradiction and confusion here. I think Jess needs their glasses checked.
My post: Someone put their hand up my skirt in a packed tube last weekend, on my thigh. I casually mentioned this to an older male friend who just could not comprehend that it barely registered as a significant event to me. Tbh, I was mostly just glad they weren't taking a picture. bukolaluko.bsky.social reply: Added to the list of things that never happened. One thing is absolutely consistent with trans people. There imagination is limited to one subject. 75% are sex workers. Block for defeat.
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Nine tables, Rachel? Nine? That's insane.
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434.The third indicator of the OfS’s closed mind was its approach to other HE providers that were using the same policy. If the OfS’s principal concern had been to change the Policy Statement itself, and secure freedom of speech and academic freedom in other HE providers, then the quickest and most effective measure would have been to find out which HE providers were using the offending policy and communicate with them. Paragraph 435.It is clear, and effectively admitted by the OfS, that they did not take that course because they wanted to use the University as an example to incentivise others. This is again strongly indicative of a determination to pursue a strategy which rested upon finding significant breaches by the University. The fact that Dr Ahmed wrote to the other universities using the same policy template only after the FD was published, highlighting the breach and the fine, points again to the OfS’s strategy, and the centrality of making findings and penalising the University.
428.First, there is the overarching approach of the OfS and its strategy from the opening of the investigation into the University. Ms Lapworth is very clear that right from the start of the investigation in October 2021, and indeed before, the OfS was looking for a test case that would send “a strong signal about the importance of freedom of speech…” (first witness statement, paragraph 62), set out above at paragraph 366. She then goes on to say that if the OfS took enforcement action (i.e. found a breach and imposed a sanction), that would “create clear compliance incentives and expectations” for other HE providers. Paragraph429.Although the principle of using a test case is not in itself wrong, Ms Lapworth’s mindset from the outset appears to have been that she wished to use the University as a tool to incentivise the rest of the sector. I note at this point that although Ms Lapworth was the chief executive, she was not the decision-maker. However, her involvement in the investigation was both intense and overarching, and the entire process was shaped by her.
In a judgment on Wednesday, Mrs Justice Lieven ruled in the university’s favour, finding the OfS “misdirected itself”. She also said the regulator’s decision was “vitiated by bias” as it approached the decision “with a closed mind and had therefore unlawfully predetermined the decision”.
A mug which says Toilets Are Now Battlefields
Exclusive interview with The Sunday Times Keir Starmer: ‘I can win the next election’ The prime minister says he’s focused on bigger issues than Peter Mandelson or calls for his resignation. Most Labour MPs quietly back me, he tells Josh Glancy
Examples include: joining a dating service joining a single-sex association, such as Girlguiding or the Women’s Institute applying for a bursary, prize or award that is only for women joining a gym and using its ID to access male or female changing rooms registering for sport with a national governing body or sports team, or for competitions applying for a job in social care, policing, prisons or a single-sex service seeking to rent in a shared house, homestay, hall of residence or dormitory registering with a healthcare or social-care provider registering with a single-sex service such as a rape crisis centre or women’s refuge, or being referred between such services.
Jess O’Thomson Legal researcher, writer, journalist, speaker and campaigner Jess is a legal researcher, writer, journalist, speaker and campaigner. They serve as the Trans Rights Lead at Good Law Project and are an expert in trans human rights law. Jess focuses on the implications of the UK Supreme Court decision in For Women Scotland, using their work to challenge injustices, advance trans rights, and drive legal and societal change both nationally and internationally.
Poster. The Lesbian Avengers. We Recruit.
Time to retire “gender critical views”. Recognition of material reality is not a quaint niche belief. Gender identity ideology on the other hand is delusional, toxic and incompatible with science, and should disqualify adherents from all responsible posts.
Why Brianna Ghey police quickly ruled out transphobia as motive
Screenshot of starterpacks
Following Phillipson’s comments, Stonewall has released a statement. It reads: “We are pleased to see the Government and EHRC working constructively to ensure the Code is legally accurate and supports service providers to treat everyone with equal dignity and respect.
The EHRC wrote to a number of organisations, recommending they restrict single-sex spaces on the basis of “biological sex”. In February 2026, the EHRC confirmed they would be taking no further action regarding its review into single-sex spaces.
A review of the EHRC was launched under Rishi Sunak’s government in 2024.
Bridget Phillipson’s statement Bridget Phillipson met with NHS nurse Jennifer Melle, who reached a settlement with an NHS trust after an incident which stemmed from Melle using a trans patient’s incorrect pronouns. During the meeting, Phillipson said the EHRC’s revised code of practice, which has not yet been presented to Parliament, had not been delayed. She said: “What I would say, however, is the code of practice applies to services and associations. It doesn’t apply to the workplace regulations.”
EHRC update ‘does not apply to workplaces’, Bridget Phillipson says Apr 14 Written by PinkNews Reporter
Trump says US will blockade the strait of Hormuz immediately
Peter Mandelson faces fixed-penalty notice for urinating in public
Michael Gove admits crush on Shabana Mahmood Former Tory minister says he spends ‘quite a lot’ of internet browsing time looking at images of Home Secretary
Selfie of me in a t-shirt saying We All Dance for Trans Liberation