After Trans Women Were Ruled To No Longer Be Legally Women In The UK, Nicola Coughlan Had Some Excellent Words

Nicola Coughlan had some choice words following the latest anti-trans news coming from the UK.

Earlier this week, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a “woman” in equality legislation should be defined as referring to a “biological woman and biological sex.” Worryingly, it essentially means that trans women aren’t legally women — the British Transport Police has already said that trans women will be strip-searched by male officers following the ruling.

In an Instagram video, Nicola said, “Like many people, I’m completely horrified by the Supreme Court’s ruling […] about trans people and to see an already marginalized community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach-churning and disgusting. And to see people celebrating it is more stomach-churning and disgusting.”

She then said that she was raising money for Not A Phase, “an incredible trans charity in the UK.” She added, “I would urge you to donate and share and if you are a cisgender person who is an ally of a trans person, I think now is the time to speak up and make your voice heard and let your trans and non-binary friends and the community and large know that you’re there for them and you’ll keep fighting for them.”

And, for those celebrating the court’s decision, she then wrote, “I have never been made feel unsafe by a trans person in my life. The only people I’ve been made feel unsafe by are cis people. You’re not fighting for women’s rights. You don’t speak for me. Bigotry is bigotry.” At the time of writing this article, Nicola’s fundraiser has raised over $98k — with the actor herself matching $13k in donations.

She has previously helped raise over $1 million for Palestinian children.

The Bridgerton star took further aim at J.K. Rowling, who donated at least the equivalent of $92,000 when fundraising began for the group that started the legal challenge, For Women Scotland. Following the ruling, the author posted numerous celebratory tweets — including one where she is smoking a cigar, captioned, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Nicola shared a post from the Abortion Support Network, an organization that “supports people who need to travel for an abortion, from Ireland, Poland, Malta, and elsewhere in Europe,” that claimed the amount Rowling had donated would have been able cover the costs of every abortion they had funded this year.

She further shared a piece from The Cut which called the moment a “new low” for Rowling, adding, “Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole.”

Nicola wasn’t the only Bridgerton actor to react to the news. In a viral TikTok, Charithra Chandran said, “I have never felt unsafe around a trans woman, ever. My womanhood has never felt threatened by a trans woman, ever. And if your womanhood has, I think that speaks more to the fragility of your womanhood, than anything about trans women.”

“And for all those people who say they care about women’s sports and women’s safety, where are you petitioning for more funding for women’s sports? Where are you petitioning for better legislation to persecute sexual assault against women?” She added, “You don’t care about women. You just want to target those that are already oppressed. Loser behaviour.”

You can find out more about Not A Phase here.