Waltham Forest Council leader Paul Perkins has added his name to an open letter from Green council leaders across London describing new guidance on single-sex spaces as an "attack on trans people".

The guidance, published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, states that trans people should use either gender-neutral facilities or ones matching their biological sex in places such as gym changing rooms and rape crisis centres. It follows a Supreme Court ruling that "sex" in the Equality Act refers to sex assigned at birth.

On 5th August, Cllr Perkins joined council leaders from Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark in writing to Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson. "Trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary identities are fundamentally valid," they wrote.

The leaders warned that the code "will feel like an attack" on trans people, and said it risks placing staff in positions of "inadvertent discrimination" where no alternative facilities exist for trans residents. They argued the guidance could lead to "exclusion, discrimination, or difficulties accessing services if organisations misinterpret the ruling".

The government has defended the code as providing "clear, workable guidance". Trans organisations have called it "chaotic and cruel". More than 100 parliamentarians, including Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, had previously called for the updated code to be disapproved.

The borough's stance follows a council motion passed in July declaring trans inclusion policies and mandating equalities training for staff and councillors.