Nicola Coughlan ‘disgusted’ by gender court ruling as she commits to fundraiser

By Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter

Irish actress Nicola Coughlan has said she is “completely horrified” and “disgusted” by the Supreme Court ruling on gender and will fundraise for a transgender charity.

The Bridgerton and Barbie star, 38, who has long been outspoken on LGBT+ issues, said she would match donations up to £10,000 (€11,700) to trans charity Not A Phase.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”, meaning transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if “proportionate”.

The judges said trans people are still protected from discrimination under equalities legislation, and that this interpretation of the law does not cause disadvantage to the “potentially vulnerable group”.

In an Instagram video, Coughlan said she was “completely horrified by the Supreme Court’s ruling”.

“To see an already marginalised community being further attacked, and attacked in law, is stomach-churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting,” she said.

Coughlan committed to matching donations of up to £10,000 (€11,700) to the “incredible” charity Not A Phase, which says it works to uplift and improve the lives of trans adults.

“Now’s the time to speak up and make your voice heard,” she said.

“Let your trans, non-binary friends and the community at large know that you’re there for them and will keep fighting for them.”

It comes as Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears posted a video on Instagram, saying the band has “full solidarity with our trans friends, family and community”.

“This decision is deeply upsetting, and we recognise the pain and fear it causes,” the I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ singer added.

Shears also said the pop group is a “partner with Not A Phase for our upcoming UK tour”.

The Supreme Court decision was hailed as a victory by women’s rights campaigners, but LGBT charity Stonewall described the judgment as “incredibly worrying for the trans community”.

Following the announcement, Not A Phase said: “Whether trans people are included or excluded in the Government’s legislation, our existence can never be taken from us.”

Coughlan, a long-time fan of drag, has appeared as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. She received a Bafta TV nod this year for her role in Channel 4’s Big Mood for female performance in a comedy.

She is also known for playing the lovelorn Penelope Featherington on Netflix regency hit Bridgerton, and panicky student Clare Devlin on Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls.