The legal test case

Watson v London Borough of Southwark

The first UK legal challenge to test Schedule 3 of the Equality Act 2010 for a female-only lesbian space, and the first since the Supreme Court ruled in For Women Scotland (2025).

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L Community members at a summer picnic

Where it stands

In October 2025 we filed an N461 judicial review claim at the Administrative Court. Judicial review is the process for challenging a public body when it breaches equality law.

The claim has been issued, sealed and served as Watson v London Borough of Southwark, claim number AC-2025-LON-004288, and is active before the High Court.

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Why we are taking them to court

What happened

In March 2025 we applied to convert one disused railway arch into the UK's first female-only lesbian community venue. Southwark controls hundreds of arches. We asked for one, roughly 0.25% of their vacant stock, with no public funding and no public access. They refused, and offered mixed-sex spaces instead, with no lawful right to exclude men.

The legal question

Schedule 3 of the Equality Act 2010 permits single-sex provision where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. Our application was built to meet that test: same-sex only, and necessary for privacy, dignity and safety. The case also engages the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires councils to eliminate discrimination and advance equality.

Why it matters

A ruling in our favour sets binding precedent on how councils must apply Schedule 3 when they hand out public assets. That reaches well past one arch in Southwark, and well past L Community. Anyone who relies on lawful single-sex provision has a stake in the answer.

The wider picture

£3.14 million in LGBTQ+ grants. Nothing for lesbian-specific provision

Since 2020, Southwark has awarded over £3.14 million in LGBTQ+ grant funding. On our reading of the published allocations, no part of it went to lesbian-specific provision. No funding, no venue, no dedicated safeguarding.

We have never argued that anyone else should get less. We have argued that lesbians should not get nothing.

What happened next

A picnic in a public park

Weeks after the refusal, we held a lawful, peaceful picnic in a Southwark park. No banners. No speeches. Women sitting on the grass in daylight.

Southwark warned us that dispersal powers could be used, and that those attending risked fines or arrest. For a lesbian meetup serving lemonade on the pavement.

How we got here

The case so far

  • March 2025 We apply to Southwark Council for one disused railway arch. The application is refused.
  • Spring 2025 A complaint is filed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
  • April 2025 The Supreme Court rules in For Women Scotland that "woman" in the Equality Act means biological sex.
  • October 2025 We file the N461 judicial review claim at the Administrative Court.
  • December 2025 The claim is sealed by the court and formally served on Southwark.
  • 2026 Proceedings continue. We will publish each significant step here as it happens.

Support for the case

MPs from three parties have backed the principle

‘Female-only lesbian spaces, especially those that support survivors, neurodivergent women, and others who are often excluded from mainstream provision, are more than just meeting places. They are lifelines.’

Marie Goldman MP, Chelmsford, Liberal Democrat

‘I support the continued right to lawful same-sex provision. I’m committed to protecting single-sex spaces.’

Ben Coleman MP, Chelsea and Fulham, Labour

‘I am following the case closely. We have to recognise the fundamental principles of biology and that “sex”, as opposed to gender, cannot be changed.’

Sarah Bool MP, South Northamptonshire, Conservative

Over 350 professionals backed the original application. The Leader of the Opposition's office formally acknowledged our submission and confirmed the issue is on record for ministerial reference.

Where your support goes

Support goes into running L Community: the app, hosting, moderation, safeguarding and the events programme. It is what keeps the network independent.

We are up against a council with its own legal department. All of this runs on what women give it.

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Read the refusal for yourself

Southwark Council's letter setting out its decision is published in full, so you can read the reasoning rather than take our word for it.

Council rejection letter

This case exists because the community does

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