Drive to make gender change less demeaning

CHANGING gender is to become easier under Government proposals to knock away “demeaning” rules that force people to undergo medical checks.

A demand to provide two years of evidence showing you have been living as the opposite sex could be scrapped after an official review was launched. The need to undergo a medical check that involves a panel of doctors testing whether you are psychologically sound could also be ended.

The drive is being launched by Justine Greening, the women and equalities minister, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the law that decriminalised homosexuality. Transgender campaigners have celebrated the news.

Separately, it has been announced that the duration which gay men have to wait after having sex before giving blood is going to be reduced. Currently they have to wait a year, but following campaigning from gay rights groups that is being cut to three months.

Ms Greening said: “This Government is committed to building an inclusive society that works for everyone, no matter what their gender or sexuality and today we’re taking the next step forward. We will build on the significant progress we have made over the past 50 years, tackling some of the historic prejudices that still persist in our laws and giving LGBT people a real say on the issues affecting them.”

Britain became one of the first countries to legally recognise people who wanted to change gender without surgery in 2004 with the Gender Recognition Act. However, in the years that have followed barriers to changing gender have frustrated people.

One is the need to prove they have been in transition for at least two years before they can legally apply to become the other sex. The other is the medical checks needed. Currently people need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria before being allowed to legally change sex. Campaigners say seeing a panel of doctors is embarrassing and intrusive.

Both issues will be looked at by a Government review which is due to conclude in the autumn.

Suzanna Hopwood, of the Stonewall Trans Advisory Group, said: “It’s vital that this reform removes the requirements for medical evidence and an intrusive interview panel, and finally allows all trans people to have their gender legally recognised through a simple administrative process.”