UK Ministers may challenge Scottish Government gender law

Controversial changes to gender recognition law being railroaded through the Scottish Parliament may be contested by UK Ministers.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill would allow people in Scotland to change legal sex by self-declaration from the age of 16.

At present, people need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and evidence they've lived as the opposite sex to get a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Although it is strongly contested by women's groups, medics, faith organisations and the public the Bill is expected to pass by Christmas.

But the UK Government has said it could refuse to recognise the legislation, and any certificates issued to people in Scotland.

UK government ministers have no plans to move in the same direction as the Scottish government and feel it has inherent dangers.

Commenting on the Scottish Government's plans in October Michael Veitch, Scottish Parliamentary Officer at CARE, said:

“We do not accept the narrative of proponents that this Bill is essentially a tidying-up exercise aimed at reducing the bureaucracy of acquiring a Gender Recognition Certificate. On the contrary, by removing medical requirements, and reducing the statutory time limit to a nominal three-month period, the Bill introduces a de-facto system of ‘self-identification’.

“If passed, the Bill would send a very clear message to children and young people that their biological sex is not a fixed reality but entirely a matter of personal choice. ‘Self-identification’ could encourage them to make potentially life-altering changes to their bodies. We also have concerns about the bill’s impact on sex-based rights and conventions, and freedom of expression.”