Have your say on government plan for gender law change

A draft Bill reforming the current process for obtaining legal gender recognition has been published for Paisley people’s views.

The Gender Recognition Reform ( Scotland) Bill’s proposals include removing the current requirement for people to apply to the UK Gender Recognition Panel.

Instead, people seeking legal gender recognition would apply to the Registrar General for Scotland.

It also removes the current requirement for applicants to provide medical evidence of their diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

But it retains the requirement that applicants must make a solemn statutory declaration they have been living in their acquired gender for three months and intend to do so permanently.

Equalities secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are proposing these reforms because the current system is viewed by many wishing to apply as traumatic and demeaning.

“A previous consultation on reform showed a majority in support for our proposals but also some concerns.

“Consulting on the detail of a draft Bill and associated impact assessments will, I hope, clearly explain the need for reform and address those concerns.

“There have always been trans people in society and for the past fifteen years they have been able to legally change their gender through obtaining a Gender

Recognition Certificate.

“We are proposing to make the current process less stressful “

The first consultation on gender recognition was held in early 2018. There were more than 15,500 responses, and 60 per cent of respondents were in favour of reform.

Visit www.gov.scot to find out more.