Do the Government’s proposed reforms on gender recognition go far
enough? What changes need to be made to the Gender
Recognition Act and other laws to improve transgender
equality? What about wider reforms? These are the main questions
which the Women and Equalities Committee will be considering in
this major new inquiry, due to report in summer 2021.
In September, Minister for Women and Equalities
announced
the Government’s plan to reform the gender recognition
process by making it an entirely online process and
reducing the fee to a nominal amount, along with the opening of
three new gender clinics. This followed the Government
consultation on reform in 2018. The Committee will look at
aspects of the reforms including:
• Should there be changes to the requirement for
individuals to have lived in their acquired gender for at least
two years?
• Should the requirement for a diagnosis of gender
dysphoria be removed?
• What impact will these proposed changes have on those
people applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate, and on
trans people more generally?
The Committee will also consider several wider issues where
changes and reforms could improve transgender equality.
In addition to Gender Recognition Act reform, questions for
the inquiry to consider include:
Why is the number of people applying for a Gender
Recognition Certificate so low compared to the number who
identify as transgender?
-
Are the Equality
Act provisions for single/separate sex spaces
and facilities clear and useable? If not, do we need reform or
further guidance?
-
Issues around access to services, including health and
social care, domestic violence and sexual violence support
services.
-
Are legal reforms needed to better support the rights of
gender-fluid and non-binary people?
Women and Equalities Committee Chair said:
“The Government has said it wants to make the process
of applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate “kinder and more
straightforward”, make it a fully online process, and reduce the
fee. Which is progress – but is it enough? We’re seeking views
about what other changes may be required to improve trans
equality: to the Gender Recognition Act, or to other legislation
- for example the Equality Act, to support services and
facilities, and on legal reforms which could improve rights for
gender fluid and non-binary people.”
The Women and Equalities Committee in the 2015-17
Parliament conducted the first ever select committee
inquiry
into transgender equality – which was also the first
report for the newly established committee. One of its key
recommendations – which the Government has acted on - was reform
of the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
Notes
The Committee
welcomes written evidence up to Nov 27th.
The inquiry will concentrate on the GRA and other issues
summarised above, in order to maintain a focus on specific
reforms and to report by next summer. While it has not been
possible to include all areas of trans equality, including
education and employment, there may be scope for further
inquiries in future.
Background
The Women and
Equalities Committee was established in June 2015. The 2015
Committee’s report on transgender equality made recommendations
for improvement and reform in a wide range of areas including
cross Government strategy, NHS services and tackling everyday
transphobia, as well as reforms to the law.
The current Committee, formed last January, has chosen this
area as a priority for 2020-21.
