Giggle for Girls founder appeals transgender discrimination finding

The founder of a social media app for “women” is appealing a finding that she discriminated against a transgender woman.

In January 2022, Giggle for Girls, marketed as an all-female space that allows women to find roommates, freelance work, find friendship groups and more, came under fire for excluding trans women through the use of artificial intelligence.

The Australian businesswoman and founder of Sall Grover had now appealed against an August court ruling that found she and her app had unlawfully discriminated against Roxanne Tickle.

On Tuesday (October 1), Grover, whose Wikipedia page describes her as a “self-identified trans-exclusionary radical feminist,” filed an appeal challenging Judge Robert Bromwich's decision.

The appeal is to “protect the rights of both genders in our society”.

The court found that Tickle had unlawfully been indirectly discriminated against after she was banned from using the app in 2021 “for not looking sufficiently feminine.”

Tickle was awarded damages of 10,000 Australian dollars (£5,200/$6,800) and limited costs. She had sought $US200,000 (£104,000/US$137,000) in compensatory and aggravated damages, claiming Grover's mistreatment had caused constant anxiety.

According to The Guardian, Grover now argues that Bromwich's finding “misinterprets the fundamental rights of women and girls and the principles of single-sex spaces that are essential to their safety and dignity.”

She further claimed: “This case highlights a critical discussion about gender identity and the need to protect the rights of both genders in our society.”

“As we advance our appeal, we emphasize that women who stand up for their rights, including the right to single-sex spaces, act with courage, honesty and integrity. This is not an act of unkindness or bigotry. Rather, it is an advocacy for fairness, honesty and truth.”

“I shouldn’t have to prove I exist.”

A “very disappointed” Tickle said of the appeal: “I shouldn't have to spend years of my life in court either proving my existence or enforcing my existing legal rights.”

Jackie Turner, director of the Trans Justice Project, said: “The Federal Court’s decision was a huge step forward for the freedom and equality of all women. It confirmed that transsexual women are protected from discrimination under current laws, just like all other women.”