Creating panic

It seems that Dr Stuart Waiton did not read the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on gender recognition law reform, before commenting on it (Scotsman, 10 November).

If he had read it, he would have realised that the proposals are entirely about changing the legal gender recorded on your birth certificate - how and at what age that change in recorded gender should be available.

The proposals are not about changing the arrangements for gender identity medical services. To suggest, as Dr Waiton does, that it is proposed that 12-year-olds will be having cross-sex hormone treatment or surgery to “change their bodies”, as a result of these proposals, is complete nonsense.

Dr Waiton’s webpage says he is a sociologist specialising in moral panics - it seems that he is trying to create one here.

At present, the arrangements for updating birth certificates harm young trans people because they are blocked from getting their paperwork consistent, and in line with the gender in which they live their lives.

Far from being “abuse” as Dr Waiton claims, these new proposals are about alleviating that harm.

In a world where too many young people are experiencing real physical, emotional or sexual abuse, it is most unfortunate that Dr Waiton has misused the word in this way.

TIM HOPKINS

Equality Network , Bernard Street

Edinburgh