Steven’s Viewz
No One Wins in This High Court Ruling
By Steven Smith
This week’s High Court ruling has left many people reeling—disappointed, divided, and more confused than ever. But one thing is clear: no one truly wins in the aftermath of this decision. Whatever legal boundaries were reinforced or redrawn, they’ve done little to offer protection or peace to the people affected most. If anything, the result is further division, and the human cost is growing.
Let’s start with a blunt truth. If there is a god who allows a child to be born with bone cancer—or worse—then perhaps, just perhaps, that same god may have placed a soul in the wrong body. It’s a difficult thought, but one that challenges traditional notions of perfect design and invites empathy over judgment.
In this debate, one group’s rights cannot come at the expense of another’s safety. Women—especially those who’ve suffered trauma at the hands of men—deserve dignity, privacy, and protection in spaces like bathrooms, hospital wards, and shelters. These are not just physical places; they are emotional safe zones, where healing and recovery often begin. To ignore the fear and anxiety many women feel about sharing intimate spaces with anyone who presents as male—even if that person identifies as female—is to ignore real, lived experience. We must listen with compassion, not condescension.
This isn’t a rejection of transgender people. On the contrary, I’ve known incredible trans women since I was a teenager. These are brave, passionate human beings who have committed to a long, often painful journey to live authentically. They undergo extensive psychological evaluations, hormone therapy, and surgery. Some reintegrate into society quietly; others become public figures or advocates. All of them, in my eyes, are women.
Which is why this ruling cuts so deep. Many trans people who have taken every step available to become their true selves now find themselves swept up in a storm of legal and cultural backlash. Instead of being seen as individuals with complex stories, they’re being lumped in with others who have not taken the same path—or who may not even identify as trans in the same way.
Part of the problem is ignorance. When I first heard the term “trans,” my mind went straight to “transvestite” or flamboyant characters like Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. And while I adore a good performance, let’s be clear: wearing a dress and heels doesn’t make someone a woman. There’s a vast difference between performance and identity. A man in a frock might enjoy the expression, the character, even the fantasy—but it doesn’t make him female.
True transition is not about fantasy. It’s about becoming. It involves sacrifice, struggle, and a level of self-awareness many of us never have to face. For those who take that journey, they earn a place in the world as their authentic selves—and they deserve respect, not suspicion.
Children, too, are part of this complex conversation. Some express gender discomfort from a young age. These feelings must be taken seriously—but also approached with caution. Many people I know went through periods of gender confusion in their youth, only to feel secure in their biological identity as adults. Others continued to struggle, and those individuals deserve full support. But irreversible medical decisions should, in most cases, wait until late adolescence, when a person’s sense of self has had more time to develop.
Still, it bears repeating: having a penis does not make someone a woman. That is not a statement of hate—it is a statement of biology. If someone is transitioning, that’s a journey we can honor and support. But biology does matter, especially when it intersects with the rights and safety of others.
What’s heartbreaking is that this ruling, intended perhaps to draw clearer lines, may only deepen misunderstanding. Trans women who have undergone surgery, therapy, and lived experience are now at greater risk of being misjudged, targeted, and excluded. The backlash is likely to hit the wrong people hardest. We risk punishing those who’ve made the most effort to live honestly.
The public discourse on transgender rights is failing everyone. The messaging is chaotic, the tone often cruel, and the nuance lost in a sea of outrage. Education is vital. We need thoughtful, well-informed conversations—conversations that recognize the humanity in everyone involved. The issue of gender identity has been reduced to a political football when it should be a human rights discussion rooted in compassion and science.
One of the most shameful chapters in this saga was when President Donald Trump banned transgender individuals from serving in the military. Anyone willing to risk their life for their country has my full respect, regardless of how they identify. That level of courage transcends gender—it defines character. In my eyes, that’s the truest identity of all: brave.
As society evolves, we must also evolve our understanding of gender. It may be time to acknowledge a third, even fourth category of sex or gender. The binary system doesn’t serve everyone, and clinging to it may be doing more harm than good. The law should reflect the complexity of human experience, not flatten it into rigid boxes.
Ultimately, this ruling doesn’t protect anyone—it creates more confusion, more pain, and more opportunities for discrimination. Women’s safety is still not fully addressed. Transgender individuals are now more vulnerable than ever. And society, caught in the middle, is left with more questions than answers.
No one has truly won this week. But if we learn anything from this moment, let it be this: the path forward must include better laws, deeper understanding, and above all, compassion for every human being trying to live their truth.
2Shades Magazine 