Proposals to change gender recognition rules in Scotland

Equality Secretary Angela Constance has launched a consultation on proposals around gender recognition including:

• Replacing requirements to provide medical evidence and to live in an acquired gender for two years when seeking legal gender recognition, with a self-declaration system
• Reducing the age at which recognition can be obtained to 16, and considering options for under-16s
• Options for the legal recognition of non-binary people – people who do not identify as male or female

The proposals have been widely welcomed by transgender campaigning groups emphasising that they would bring Scotland into line with international best practice.  However the proposals have also received criticism from other organisations because of the potential implications for under 16 year olds.

Read the consultation paper here: https://consult.gov.scot/family-law/review-of-the-gender-recognition-act-2004/

 

Image credit: Stinging Eyes, Flickr