A number of constituents have been in touch with me about the Government’s decision to veto new arrangements for gender recognition in Scotland. I thought it would be helpful to set out my views on this matter.
I share the anger constituents have on this. The Conservative Government’s decision to veto Scotland’s new arrangement for gender recognition is appalling. It is the latest in their attempts to play political football with the lives of trans people, using divide and conquer tactics to stoke a ‘culture war’ for their own gain at the expense of a marginalised community.
We must be clear – trans rights are human rights. The Labour Party has a proud history as a pioneering party of equality, and the Equality Act is one of our proudest achievements. However, the fight for equality and respect is far from finished.
While pioneering at its inception, the Gender Recognition Act 2004 is bureaucratic, intrusive and demeaning. It is now in clear need of reform, especially the requirement to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a mental illness which the WHO no longer recognise as legitimate.
The Government has had years to undertake this process and chosen not to act and could have chosen to engage meaningfully with the Scottish Government regarding their own reforms. We must continue to push for reform, following the lead of over eighteen other countries which have adopted more humane measures.
The vote on the invocation of Section 35 of the Scotland Act which took place in the House of Commons on the 17 January was on a ‘to note’ motion, meaning it was purely symbolic, and was frustratingly only granted minutes before the debate commenced. It was nothing more than a political stunt.
I am deeply concerned by the Government’s behaviour, and fear that it risks further politicising the very real struggles faced by members of the trans community, a community that faces sigma and marginalisation.
Hate crime against trans people has increased by 56% over the last year, yet instead of taking genuine action to tackle this or meet its 2017 commitment to reform the GRA, the Government has decided to use the community as a pawn in a political and constitutional battle with the SNP.
The Government’s course of action will not only serve to further damage our reputation at an international level but leave a legacy of broken trust with LGBT+ community that may be increasingly difficult to rebuild.
I will continue to support all efforts to challenge this Conservative Government on its anti-trans rhetoric in Parliament, as well as pushing for an update to the UK’s own legislation, such as the Gender Recognition Act and a fully comprehensive ban on conversion therapy.
I thank all constituents that have got in touch with me about this matter.
Stephen Morgan MP
