On September 27, 2025, the heart of London will see a family of four—Jake and Hannah Graf and their two children—lacing up their trainers to run the Vitality Westminster Mile. While the couple’s efforts to raise funds for Children With Cancer UK (CWC) are admirable, their participation comes at a tense time for Britain’s transgender community. Their story, alongside a heated national debate about trans rights and single-sex spaces, has drawn attention from celebrities, lawmakers, and rights campaigners across the country.
Just days before the charity run, author JK Rowling openly criticized the UK’s newly appointed Justice Secretary, David Lammy, for what she called a failure to comply with a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the rights of transgender prisoners. According to the Daily Record, Rowling’s remarks came after it was revealed that trans prisoners remain in women’s prisons, despite the Supreme Court’s decision that the legal definition of “woman” and “sex” under the Equality Act refers specifically to “biological woman and biological sex.” In practical terms, the ruling means that trans women should not be housed in women-only prisons by law.
Inspectors found that at HMP Downview, a women’s prison, there was no longer one-to-one supervision of trans inmates when they mingled with female prisoners for education, social visits, or religious services—a situation that has alarmed many campaigners. Despite the Supreme Court’s clear stance, the policy on trans prisoners has not been fully enforced, and this has become a lightning rod for public debate.
David Lammy, who took office as Justice Secretary earlier this year, has long been an outspoken supporter of trans rights. In correspondence to concerned constituents, as reported by Mail Online, Lammy stated, “Ministers have stated that while single-sex spaces must be protected, it is important to emphasise that trans people must also be protected. They must retain clear protections in law and should be able to live their lives free of harassment and discrimination.”
Rowling, never one to shy away from controversy, took to social media platform X with a scathing retort: “Maybe he’s waiting for all their cervixes to grow in.” She also shared a photo of Lammy with a caption referencing biological differences and the complexities of sex and gender, stoking further debate among her vast following.
Conservative voices have also weighed in. Tory MP Rebecca Paul was unequivocal: “Women’s prisons should only be for women. It’s as simple as that. Whether the Justice Secretary agrees or not is irrelevant, the law is clear and must be complied with. Trans prisoners STILL in women’s jail despite Supreme Court ruling.”
For Jake and Hannah Graf, the legal and political turmoil isn’t just a matter of headlines—it’s personal. The couple, often described as the UK’s “transgender power couple,” have become prominent advocates for both LGBTQ+ rights and children’s health causes. As ambassadors for Children With Cancer UK, they are determined to raise awareness and funds for families affected by childhood cancer. Their motivation is deeply personal: Jake lost his father to cancer, and the couple fears nothing more than their own children facing a similar diagnosis.
“I lost my father to cancer, and there’s a lot of cancer in my family. We’ve got friends who’ve battled it,” Jake told PinkNews. “I honestly can’t imagine anything more horrific,” he added, describing the work of CWC as “absolutely invaluable” but lamenting that “the visibility it gets is not enough.” The Grafs’ participation in the Westminster Mile is not just a show of support for the charity, but a way to help other families facing unimaginable hardship. “Firstly, you’re heroes. I can’t imagine the pain. Stay strong, there’s a huge community of people there to support you,” Jake said in a message to families navigating childhood cancer.
But their commitment to charity comes at a time of profound anxiety. The Supreme Court’s April 2025 ruling, which clarified that the Equality Act’s definition of “woman” refers only to biological women, has had ripple effects far beyond the prison system. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) quickly published new guidance on access to single-sex spaces, which, according to PinkNews, many UK businesses have called “unworkable” both logistically and financially. The guidance has left many in the trans community feeling uncertain, and some fear it could lead to exclusionary practices in workplaces and public spaces.
Jake described the summer of 2025 as “riddled with anxiety, worry and uncertainty about the future.” He expressed deep concern that the EHRC’s guidance might force businesses to implement “what is segregation of their trans team members and customers.” In his words, “I think this will be the worst time, legislatively, for the trans community in UK history.”
The data supports his concerns. According to ILGA-Europe’s annual rankings, the UK has fallen to 22nd place in 2025 for LGBTQ+ laws, now the second-worst in Western Europe and Scandinavia—above only Italy. Just a decade ago, the UK topped the list. “It’s very, very sad, and I worry for my wife’s safety and our children’s safety when they’re out together,” Jake said.
Despite these challenges, the Grafs remain determined to make a difference. As ambassadors for CWC, they will also attend the charity’s gala on November 8, 2025, and take on the role of team captains at its Big Xmas Quiz. Jake encouraged the public to watch the Sky documentary Kids Like Us, which features children sharing their experiences of life after a cancer diagnosis—a powerful reminder of the resilience of young people and the importance of community support.
Amid the heated debates and legislative uncertainty, the story of Jake and Hannah Graf stands out as a testament to hope and solidarity. Their decision to put themselves forward, both as advocates for children with cancer and as visible members of the trans community, reflects a determination to build bridges and spark conversation, even when the climate feels hostile.
As the dust settles on the Supreme Court ruling and the government’s response continues to unfold, the voices of campaigners, lawmakers, and families like the Grafs will remain central to the debate about rights, safety, and what it means to belong in modern Britain. The coming months promise more discussion, more activism, and—if the Grafs have anything to say about it—a renewed focus on compassion for the most vulnerable among us.
