BASHH and BHIVA Joint Statement: Our commitment to supporting trans and non-binary colleagues, patients and inclusive healthcare services

16 July 2026 (Last updated: 17 Jul 2026 11:56)

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and the British HIV Association (BHIVA) recognise that recent developments relating to guidance on single-sex spaces have caused uncertainty and concern for many people, including transgender and non-binary colleagues working across sexual health and HIV services. In response to these developments, and in light of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s updated services Code of Practice now coming into force on the 5th August 2026, we wish to reaffirm our commitment in supporting services and workplaces to be safe and inclusive spaces for all staff and service users.

Transgender and non-binary healthcare workers, support staff, and volunteers make invaluable contributions to our specialty, our patients, and our communities, and deserve to work in environments that offer dignity and safety, and are free from discrimination, harassment, or risk of exclusion.

Genitourinary and HIV medicine are often seen as leading on issues around diversity and inclusion in healthcare environments, and both BASHH and BHIVA are committed to centring equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our strategies. We recognise that sex and gender are complex concepts that cannot be reduced to simple binary classifications. We are concerned that policies or guidance which fail to reflect this complexity may have unintended consequences for transgender people, people with variations in sex characteristics, and others whose experiences do not fit neatly within binary definitions. Service and workplace-based changes that do not protect the dignity and rights of trans and non-binary staff will also have negative consequences for our patients.

We encourage policymakers to ensure that future guidance is informed by robust scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and meaningful engagement with affected communities. We will continue to advocate for the rights of trans, non-binary, and other gender diverse people. We urge all healthcare organisations to respond to existing and new guidance in ways that are safe, inclusive, and respectful, ensuring and prioritising the creation of healthcare environments that work for everyone.