After a years-long legal battle, the Federal Court of Australia has handed down a judgment in a landmark case about gender discrimination law. It found a transgender woman was directly discriminated against on the basis of gender by being refused access to a women-only social media app.

The case, Giggle for Girls v Tickle, has mobilised special interest and lobby groups and garnered intense media attention. Today’s unanimous decision by three judges affirms the rights of transgender people across the country.

The matter has been long and winding, involving appeals from both sides. Here’s how we got to this point and what the judgment means.

In August 2024, the Federal Court of Australia made a landmark decision. A female-only social media app, Giggle for Girls, and its chief executive, Sally Grover, were found to have discriminated against Roxanne Tickle, who is a transgender woman.

Grover removed Tickle from the app after looking at Tickle’s selfie and deciding Tickle was a man.

Justice Robert Bromwich said this was indirect discrimination based on gender identity, and ordered Grover to pay Tickle $10,000.

Both sides appealed the decision.

Read more: Roxanne Tickle’s win in the federal court is a historic victory for transgender women

In August 2025, the full Federal Court, consisting of Justice Melissa Perry, Justice Wendy Abraham and Justice Geoffrey Kennett, heard the appeal and cross appeal.

In Grover’s appeal, she argued she and Giggle for........

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