A transgender woman who won Australia’s landmark ‘what is a woman’ case has taken the extraordinary step of filing a cross-appeal, seeking to upgrade the judgment – as JK Rowling weighs in on the bitter court battle.
In September, Roxanne Tickle won a Federal Court case against Sall Grover, the founder of the app Giggle for Girls.
Ms Grover had banned the 54-year-old from the app in 2021, arguing it was for women and Ms Tickle was biologically male.
The ‘Tickle vs Giggle’ case made global headlines because it is one of the first times the vexed question of ‘what is a woman’ has been tested in the courts, with the judge sensationally ruling that ‘sex is changeable’.
Ms Grover, 40, is appealing the case, having previously told this publication she was prepared to go all the way to the High Court.
The mother-of-one is now being supported by prominent gender activist and Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
But now Ms Tickle has filed a cross-appeal seeking to elevate the court’s finding from indirect to direct discrimination.
She also aims to increase the awarded damages and aggravated damages significantly beyond the initial $10,000 compensation and legal costs, which were capped at $50,000.
The case has attracted significant public and legal attention, not only for its implications on discrimination law but also for its broader social impact.
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has once again applied to intervene in the appeal.
Adding another layer to the legal saga, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has also joined the fray by applying to intervene, in support of Giggle and sex-based rights.
The first case management hearing is set for February 12 in the Federal Court in Sydney.