Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill is a proposed Act of the Scottish Parliament, supported by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. It would amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, making it easier for people to legally change their gender.[1] The proposed changes have been repeatedly delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic,[2] as well as significant protest and opposition to the changes.[3]

Current procedures under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 have been described as bureaucratic, meaning that many transgender people wait two years until they can legally change their gender.[4] The proposed bill would lower the age people can legally change gender from 18 to 16[5] and would not require a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.[4] Plans to recognise a non-binary gender have been dropped entirely.[3]

The bill has been opposed by 'gender critical' lobby groups such as For Women Scotland.[6] A poll conducted by Survation, commissioned by policy analysts Blackburn Hunter Mackenzie, found that majority of Scottish voters oppose transgender people declaring their own gender without a medical diagnosis.[5][7] However, another poll commissioned for the BBC, conducted by Savanta ComRes, found 57% of Scots supported making it easier to obtain a GRC. The same poll found that over 40% of people supported Self ID, compared to 37% against it.[8]

References
  1. "Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: consultation analysis". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  2. Duffy, Nick (21 December 2021). "Move to system 'closer to self-declaration' for gender recognition, MPs recommend". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  3. Green, Chris (20 June 2019). "Scotland waters down changes to gender laws". inews.co.uk.
  4. Boothman, John; Allardyce, Jason (19 December 2021). "Ministers face public backlash over gender recognition reform plans". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. Sanderson, Daniel (20 September 2021). "Let 12-year-olds change gender without parental consent, Scottish government told". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  6. Horne, Marc (20 December 2021). "Gender reforms will cost you, SNP and Greens told". The Times. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  7. "Majority of Scots against gender 'self-ID' plans". Holyrood. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  8. "Scots support gender reform but reject some proposals – the polling results in depth". The National. Retrieved 2 March 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.