User:The C of E/fvglc

Greater London Council v Farrar' [1980]1 W.L.R 608 is an Employment Tribunal Appeal case regarding the legality of the Greater London Council to refuse female professional wrestlers a licence to take part in professional wrestling matches in London. The case held that the ban on women's wrestling was unlawful.

Background
Marjorie Farrar, wrestling as Sue Brittan, applied for a licence to wrestle from the GLC. The GLC rejected her application as they had a ban on women's wrestling since 1930 and reaffirmed it in 1963 when men's wrestling had been legalised. Farrar challenged the ban in court citing that the GLC was denying her employment on the grounds of her gender under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. GLC countered by arguing that under the London Government Act 1963, they had the authority to determine conditions for licencing premises. The future Leader of the Greater London Council, Ken Livingstone supported the ban stating he felt it was degrading to women and had a sexual focus similar to foxy boxing.

Case
The first hearing of the case at the tribunal found in favour of the GLC following their argument that women's wrestling was not included in the Sex Discrimination Act because of women being less physical than men. Farrar appealed on the grounds that the GLC were blocking her from working and earning money. On appeal, the tribunal found that since the Sex Discrimination Act prohibited discrimination on sex grounds, the GLC conditions imposing a ban on women's wrestling in London was unlawful.