Approach to trans issues is criticised by MP

DEADLY BLAZE: THE CHAIRWOMAN of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee has accused the Government of “mishandling” its approach to transgender issues.

Conservative Maria Miller said many trans people do not have access to basic healthcare, and claimed ministers should have focused on improving service provision instead of reforming the legal recognition process.

Mrs Miller, a former cabinet minister, told the Press Association that her select committee had recommended improving healthcare access in its report on transgender equality three years ago.

“Many trans people simply don’t have access to the basic healthcare that the rest of us take for granted – things like cervical smears are often things that trans men are not able to access,” she said.

“(The provision of services) seems to have somewhat been eclipsed by an announcement by the Government on the Gender Recognition Act – that was one of our recommendations, but only one of 33.”

Mrs Miller said the focus on the legislation was “wrongheaded”, instead arguing for provision of services to be given greater attention.

“There has been very little headway made on that and indeed even on the area the Government has announced its interest – the Gender Recognition Act – there has been very little concrete proposals put forward over the last three years, and I think that has left a vacuum which has been unhelpful.”

Mrs Miller said the “isolated announcement” on reforming the Gender Recognition Act two years ago had not been followed by evidence that “much thought had been put into how that announcement would actually be taken forward”.

“And as a result there has been a debate focusing in on things that really are not as important as making sure that trans people have access to public services, and the debate has been focused in on issues that are much less important to trans people’s lives.”

A Government spokeswoman said: “Our ambitious LGBT action plan, announced last year and backed by £4.5m, committed to putting LGBT people’s needs at the heart of the NHS. This includes improving the way gender identity services work for transgender adults and appointing a national adviser.”