Australia’s High Court leaves in place ruling that women-only app unlawfully excluded a transgender woman
The Tilt · Friday, 11 September 2026
Why it matters
The case supplies a clear legal comparison between transgender women and women designated female at birth in access to a women-only digital service. Although Australian, it is a significant test of how an anti-discrimination statute limits a gender-based exclusion and how far a women-focused “special measure” can justify treating those groups differently.
What happened
Australia’s High Court refused Giggle for Girls owner Sall Grover’s request for permission to appeal, ending the litigation and leaving the Full Federal Court’s ruling in force. The Federal Court found that excluding Roxanne Tickle from the women-only app based on her gender-related appearance amounted to direct discrimination, treating her less favourably than a woman designated female at birth; it had awarded her $20,000 in damages and ordered up to $100,000 in legal costs. Grover had argued that the app qualified as a special measure intended to achieve equality and provide women with a safe space, but the High Court said an appeal challenging the Federal Court’s interpretation of the Sex Discrimination Act had insufficient prospects of success.
Previously
May 2026 — The Full Federal Court dismissed Sall Grover’s appeal, increased Roxanne Tickle’s damages to $20,000 and ordered legal costs of up to $100,000.(Daily Mail Online)
2021 — Giggle for Girls banned Roxanne Tickle from the women-only app and refused to readmit her.(Daily Mail Online)
Players & places
- Australia
- High Court of Australia
- Federal Court of Australia
- Giggle for Girls
- Roxanne Tickle
- Sall Grover