Controversial ‘self-identify’ gender plan set to be axed

PLANS to allow people in England to ‘self-identify’ as a different gender will be formally dropped this week after they sparked controversy.

Ministers have decided to scrap proposals to permit gender on birth certificates being changed without a medical diagnosis.

instead, it is believed the cost of changing gender as it currently stands will be made cheaper. The proposals to alter the 2004 Gender Recognition Act were sent out for consultation in 2018. liz Truss, the equalities minister, will this week publish the Government’s new stance on the policy.

But a UK Government source told the sunday Times: ‘We think that the current legislation, which supports people’s rights to change their sex, is sufficient.’

At the moment, those wishing to change sex have to pay £140 and apply to a panel for a gender recognition certificate.

They have to supply two reports stating they have suffered from gender dysphoria, which normally come from their GP and another doctor or psychologist. Tory MPs claimed boris Johnson developed cold feet about scrapping the reforms after being influenced by his fiancee Carrie symonds.

Trans rights activists within the Conservative Party have said that abandoning moves to liberalise the law would be a ‘section 28 moment’. This was referring to the law passed by Margaret Thatcher in 1988 which banned councils and schools from ‘promoting homosexuality’.