In light of the Scottish Government consultation on proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act (2004), much debate has arisen over the potential impacts for gender equality efforts and for organisations working solely with women. To find out how Scotland’s gender equality and gender-based violence sector feels about the changes and what their current policy …
Whose Gender Is It Anyway?
Caitlin Logan has written an excellent short article for Bella Caledonia about being a feminist who supports reform of the Gender Recognition Act. Read it at: https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/02/17/whose-gender-is-it-anyway/ Those who see trans identity as irreparably conflicting with feminist ideology frequently describe themselves as “gender critical”, and characterise those of us who recognise trans people within their identified …
New transgender law will not harm anyone’s rights
Scottish Trans Alliance Manager, James Morton, wrote in the Edinburgh Evening News: I was a transgender teenager back when Section 28 still banned teachers from supporting LGBT young people. Alone without role models, I believed being trans was unacceptable. To try to cure myself, I embraced feminism and fought to end gender stereotypes. However, the …
“Malicious misinformation” on gender recognition is impacting on trans young people
Caitlin Logan, a reporter for CommonSpace, has written a great article challenging the misinformation being spread by other parts of the media about gender recognition reform. Read her full article at: https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/12291/malicious-misinformation-gender-recognition-impacting-trans-young-people-says-charity Some excerpts: National charities LGBT Youth Scotland and Scottish Trans Alliance, along with the national youth commission on gender recognition, say that the …
A need to be recognised for who we truly are
Vic Valentine, Scottish Trans Alliance Policy Officer, writes: Being seen as who you are is important. Whether we want people to see how much we care about them, to understand where we’re coming from, or to recognise that we’ve changed – we have all probably experienced times where people don’t see us how we want …
Constructive discussion about GRA reform is welcome but attempts to demonise trans people are not acceptable
James Morton, Scottish Trans Alliance Manager, writes: It’s 100 years since the first women in Scotland won the right to vote. It’s 43 years since equality law began to protect women’s rights to employment and service provision. As a trans man who was assigned female at birth, I deeply appreciate how limited my childhood opportunities and aspirations …
Gender Recognition – it’s not what you think
Jennie Kermode, Chair of Trans Media Watch and author of ‘Transgender Employees in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers‘, has written an excellent short article for Bella Caledonia that tackles some of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding gender recognition reform: http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/01/23/gender-recognition-its-not-what-you-think/
Simplified PDF consultation response form and guide
We’ve created a simplified response form and guide which you can print, fill in by hand and submit by post. Please print several copies and get your friends, family and/or colleagues to complete them. It’s vital that as many people as possible respond in support of trans rights. Download Simplified Guide PDF Download Simplified Response …
Since 2015, Ireland has allowed people to change gender by self-declaration.
Libby Brooks, the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, has written a great article about what the Scottish Government and Westminster can learn from Ireland’s successful implementation of legal gender recognition based on self-declaration. Read her full piece at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/15/monumental-change-ireland-transformed-transgender-rights Senator Kevin Humphreys guided the Irish gender recognition legislation through when he became minister of state for social …
Equal Recognition statement by Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre
On International Human Rights Day Forth Valley Rape Crisis would like to express our full support of all of the proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act and encourage all those committed to the advancement of human rights to respond to the on-going Equal Recognition consultation. As a movement, Rape Crisis have always fought against …