An Australian full federal court upheld a landmark decision for a transgender woman, ruling that her exclusion from a female-only app constituted direct discrimination.
The court doubled damages against the Giggle for Girls app and its founder Sall Grover to A$20,000 ($14,350). Roxanne Tickle, who was born male but is recognized as female, was blocked after Grover reviewed her photo.
Tickle said, "I hope this assists trans and gender diverse people to heal."
Alice Taylor from Bond University said the decision affirms protections for trans people under the Sex Discrimination Act. Grover argued sex is immutable, but the court disagreed.
The court also ruled that the app did not qualify as a "special measure" for equality.
