Hello, fellow ladies

Day 6 Sandie Peggie v NHS Fife - Dr Upton’s cross-examination continued today, and it was nothing short of disastrous. Under sustained questioning from Naomi Cunningham, he admitted that he knew Sandy Peggie was uncomfortable sharing a changing room with him but carried on anyway. Despite multiple instances of Peggie leaving the room rather than change in front of him, Upton dismissed her reaction as prejudice rather than a reasonable expectation of female-only spaces. A key part of the morning session focused on whether self-ID would allow any man to enter female-only spaces. Cunningham used the example of “Pete,” a hypothetical male claiming to be a woman, to highlight the flaw in Upton’s argument. He admitted that sincerity is difficult to judge and that women would have no way of knowing if a trans-identifying male was genuine. This was a major concession, as it undermines the entire premise of self-ID. When questioned on the purpose of single-sex spaces, Upton acknowledged that men commit more violent and sexual crimes than women, yet still resisted the idea that female-only spaces exist for privacy and safeguarding rather than because all men are inherently dangerous. Cunningham countered that excluding trans women from female spaces does not imply they are threats, just as women-only spaces do not assume all men are predators. Still, Upton insisted that keeping trans women out of female spaces suggested a belief that many of them were dangerous, failing to grasp the principle that these spaces are defined by sex, not intent. The most damning moment of the morning came when Cunningham asked Upton whether he continued using the female changing room despite knowing Peggie was uncomfortable. His answer was a blunt "yes". Instead of showing any respect for a female colleague’s right to privacy, he simply carried on, expecting her to accept his presence regardless of how she felt. In the afternoon, the session descended into a debate over language, as Upton refused to accept basic biological definitions of male and female. Cunningham stated that a biological female is someone configured to produce eggs, while a biological male is configured to produce sperm. Upton refused to accept this, dragging the discussion into circular arguments that the judge eventually had to step in and clarify. Cunningham then accused Upton of using this language game as a form of dominance, just as he had done over Peggie in the changing room. Jane Russell, Upton’s barrister, objected, but Upton’s refusal to engage with reality only strengthened the argument that this was about power, not identity. Meanwhile, Upton complained that he had to disclose his trans status to his employer, calling it “deeply saddening.” Cunningham pointed out the obvious solution—keep male bodies out of female-only spaces entirely. Instead of acknowledging this, Upton suggested individual changing cubicles for everyone, effectively conceding that his presence in female spaces was a problem. Cunningham pushed further, highlighting that women cannot tell by looking at someone whether they have a history of trauma or sexual violence, making the forced inclusion of males in female spaces not just unfair, but actively harmful. The session ended with Upton being accused of showing complete contempt for women’s bodily privacy and autonomy. This case is now fully exposing the true impact of self-ID policies—where women must either submit or be punished. NHS Fife chose to back a male over a female nurse who simply wanted a single-sex space, and today’s testimony made clear just how unjustifiable that decision was. As the tribunal resumes tomorrow, Upton’s credibility is in tatters, and the bigger question remains: why is NHS Fife still defending this?