- The requirements necessary to legally change gender will
remain the same, but the process will be modernised
- The application fee for a Gender Recognition Certificate will
be significantly reduced to ensure cost is not a barrier for
anyone
- Government is also taking action to ensure transgender people
can access the appropriate healthcare they need
Following a considerable amount of consultation with the public
and representative organisations, the government has decided that
the current provisions within the Act allow for those that wish
to legally change their sex to do so safely and fairly.
However, the process of applying for a Gender Recognition
Certificate will be modernised - the application will be
digitised on gov.uk, and the fee for the application will be
significantly reduced to make it more user-friendly.
Minister for Women and Equalities, , said:
“We believe in individual liberty and in the humanity and dignity
of every person.
“It is my view that the balance struck in the existing
legislation is correct. There are proportionate checks and
balances in the system, alongside support for people that want to
change their legal sex.
“To make the application process as straightforward as possible,
we are bringing it into one place on gov.uk, and ensuring cost is
not a barrier for anyone.”
The Government is taking action to ensure transgender people can
access the appropriate healthcare they need.
Funding for gender identity services has increased by 50% over
the last three years, with at least three new gender clinics
established over 2020/21. The UK’s first National LGBT Health
Advisor is also supporting Government to improve transgender
people’s patient experience, and take meaningful action to
address historical problems that have resulted in long waiting
times to access specialised gender identity services.
In order to apply for a GRC, applicants will continue to need:
- A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria from an approved
medical practitioner;
- A medical report from an approved medical professional
providing details of any treatment they have had;
- Evidence they have lived in their new gender for at least two
years;
- Agreement from their spouse/civil partner to the
marriage/civil partnership;
- Make a statutory declaration that they intend to live in the
acquired gender until death (making a false statement is a
criminal offence).
This is then sent to a Gender Recognition Panel, made up of four
judges and four medical professionals, for assessment. Each
application is assessed by one judge and one medical
professional, who decide whether to issue the GRC. The applicant
is not required to meet the panel.
Further Information:
- The GRA consultation, launched in 2018 by the previous
administration, saw more than 100,000 responses submitted. And,
alongside today’s announcement, the government has published an
analysis of those responses.
- Alongside the consultation responses, Officials and Ministers
have met with more than 140 organisations and representative
groups to hear their views on the GRA.
- Consultation analysis was handled independently by Nottingham
Trent University.
- No robust estimate exists for the size of the transgender
population in the UK.
- The Government has asked the Law Commission to review the
coverage and effectiveness of current hate crime legislation,
which includes exploring whether transphobic hate crime should be
considered an aggravated offence.
- In July 2018 the previous administration published the
National LGBT Survey. The survey received over 108,000 valid
responses, making it the largest national survey to date of LGBT
people anywhere in the world
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-lgbt-survey-summary-report
