UK’s Boris Johnson Says: ‘Basic facts of biology’ Are Key in Transgender Debate

British leader Boris Johnson has waded into the transgender debate, telling parliament that the “basic facts of biology remain overwhelmingly important” in distinguishing men from women.

The prime minister made his opinion on the hot-topic issue clear when asked Wednesday if he would hold meetings on how to “constructively support these young people who are experiencing gender distress.”

Johnson, 57, called it an issue that “requires extreme sensitivity, tact, love and care.”

“We must recognize that when people want to make a transition in their lives, that they should be treated with the maximum possible generosity and respect,” he said.

“But I do want to say in addition that I think when it comes to distinguishing between a man and a woman, that the basic facts of biology remain overwhelmingly important.”

Johnson’s comments were in contrast to opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer who earlier this month told The Times of London that “a woman is a female adult, and … trans women are women.”

They also came on the same day that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman nominated to the Supreme Court, refused to define the word “woman” because she is “not a biologist.”

Groups campaigning for women’s sex-based rights welcomed Johnson’s remarks with Fair Play For Women celebrating the prime minister’s “clear commonsense answer.”

Kai O’Doherty, head of policy and research at transgender youth charity Mermaids, stressed that people should “not attach so much weight to biology when discussing trans matters”, while praising Johnson’s compassion in his remarks.

“We were pleased to see the PM’s answer today included an important emphasis on ensuring we treat trans people with respect and generosity and that his latter comments were distinctly made within this context,” O’Doherty told the UK paper.

“Sex rights and trans rights are not at odds with one another.”