Chronological coverage updated 11th September 2026 06:47.
Update 1 · 11th September 2026
Giggle for Girls Founder Vows to Leave Australia After High Court Rejects Trans Discrimination Appeal
Sall Grover, the founder of the female-only networking application Giggle for Girls, has announced she will leave Australia and move her business overseas after losing her final legal appeal in a landmark sex discrimination case. The High Court of Australia rejected her bid for special leave to appeal a ruling that found she had unlawfully discriminated against Roxanne Tickle, a transgender woman banned from the app in 2021. Sources: dailymail.co.uk.
The Federal Court doubled damages awarded to Roxanne Tickle to $20,000 and ordered Sall Grover to pay legal costs of up to $100,000. — according to dailymail.co.uk, as reported by dailymail.co.uk.
Legal Arguments and High Court Ruling
The legal dispute began when Ms Tickle, who was born male, underwent gender-affirming surgery and hormone treatment, and identifies as female, was excluded from the platform. Ms Grover's legal team argued the app was exempt from discrimination law under special measures designed to achieve equality and provide a safe space for women. However, lawyers for the Sex Discrimination Commissioner argued that invidious discrimination could not be justified under those provisions. Sources: dailymail.co.uk.
In a concise two-sentence decision, the High Court stated there was no reason to doubt the Full Federal Court's interpretation of the Sex Discrimination Act and concluded that any further appeal had insufficient prospects of success. The decision leaves Ms Grover with no remaining legal avenues in Australia. Sources: dailymail.co.uk.
According to dailymail.co.uk, Sall Grover, Founder of Giggle for Girls said: “This case is the 'what is a woman?' case, and one must be able to speak about it fearlessly and frankly,”.
Reactions to the Verdict
Following the ruling, advocacy group Equality Australia praised the High Court's decision, emphasizing that Australian law has long recognized gender identity and legal sex status. Under the Sex Discrimination Act, it is illegal to discriminate against an individual based on their gender identity, sexual orientation, or intersex status. Sources: dailymail.co.uk.
According to dailymail.co.uk, Heather Corkhill, Legal Director at Equality Australia said: “For decades, Australian laws have recognised that a person's legal sex is not limited to the sex they were assigned at birth. Any other interpretation would deny the reality and existence of trans people”.
According to dailymail.co.uk, Roxanne Tickle, Plaintiff in High Court discrimination case said: “I now look forward to getting on with the rest of my life in the community we all know and love. One that embraces freedom and equality for all women,”.
- Australia's High Court upheld a anti-discrimination ruling protecting transgender women's access to female-designated services, prompting the app founder to leave the country.
Sources: dailymail.co.uk
