The founder of a female-only app who lost a landmark ‘what is a woman’ case is now taking her fight to the United Nations, calling on the global body to intervene with the Australian government.
Sall Grover, who founded Giggle, an online platform for women, has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), challenging the Australian government over a Federal Court ruling that found ‘sex is changeable’.
Ms Grover had banned transgender woman Roxanne Tickle, 54, from her app in 2021, arguing it was for women and Ms Tickle was biologically male.
Ms Tickle had identified as a woman since 2017, undergoing surgery two years later and getting a new birth certificate that lists her sex as female.
In September, Justice Robert Bromwich found Ms Tickle had suffered indirect discrimination, ordering Ms Grover to pay $10,000 in damages – a small fraction of the $200,000 that was being sought – and to cover legal costs.
The ‘Tickle vs Giggle’ case made global headlines because it is one of the first times the question of ‘what is a woman’ has been tested in the courts, with the judge sensationally ruling that ‘sex is changeable’.
Ms Grover, 40, is appealing that decision and is prepared to go all the way to the High Court.
But her case now has global ramifications following her complaint to the UNHRC as she seeks to challenge the court ruling that has effectively erased the legal recognition of sex as a protected category in Australia.
Sall Grover (pictured), who founded Giggle, an online platform for women, has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC)
The mother-of-one said the ruling had already set a dangerous precedent, with the banning of female-only lesbian events.
‘This is not a culture war; this is about the fundamental human rights of women and girls,’ Ms Grover said.
‘Women fought for generations to have spaces free from male presence – whether in crisis shelters, prisons, sports, or social networks.
‘That right has now been stripped away by an activist legal interpretation that compels women to accept men in female-only spaces and punishes them for objecting. That is not progress; that is oppression.’
Ms Grover alleged that her case is not an isolated one and that major institutions, such as the Australian Human Rights Commission, had been ‘captured’ by transgender ideology at the expense of women.
‘These institutions have redefined sex-based protections without public consultation, prioritising gender identity over the material reality of sex,’ she added.
The entrepreneur and businesswoman was keen to stress that her fight is not a ‘culture war’ imported from the United States, where President Donald Trump recently moved to ban transgender women from participating in female sports.
‘This is not about left or right. Culture wars is a phrase used by politicians and media to shut down debate, an anti-free speech mechanism,’ Ms Grover added.
In September, Justice Robert Bromwich found Roxanne Tickle (pictured) had suffered indirect discrimination, ordering Ms Grover to pay $10,000 in damages – a small fraction of the $200,000 that was being sought – and to cover legal costs.This publication revealed in January that Ms Tickle had filed a cross-appeal, seeking to upgrade the ruling from indirect to direct discrimination
‘This is about whether women and girls have the right to say “no” to men in their spaces.
‘The Federal Court ruling doesn’t just force inclusion—it compels speech, requiring women to modify their language and beliefs to accommodate gender identity ideology.
‘That is an abuse of power, and it is completely at odds with Australia’s human rights obligations.’
Ms Grover’s submission to the UNHRC argues that the Federal Court ruling violates women’s rights under international law by eliminating sex as a legally protected category and forces women to address men as women.
She is calling on the UNHRC to intervene before the Giggle appeal is heard in August to ensure that ‘the Australian Government is held accountable for its misinterpretation of international human rights law’.
‘This case will determine whether women and girls in Australia still have legal rights at all,’ Ms Grover said.
‘We cannot allow unelected bureaucrats to erase decades of hard-won protections through stealth and activist legal interpretations.
‘If Australia refuses to uphold sex-based rights, then the world needs to know.’
Daily Mail Australia revealed in January that Ms Tickle had filed a cross-appeal seeking to elevate the court’s finding from indirect to direct discrimination.
Ms Tickle also aims to increase the awarded damages and aggravated damages significantly beyond the initial $10,000 compensation and legal costs, which were capped at $50,000.
It came as Ms Grover was planning to meet Harry Potter author and prominent gender critical activist JK Rowling in the UK.
The author had pledged her ‘total solidarity’ to Ms Grover in her court battle.
