-
First plan in the UK to improve the lives of non-binary
people
New actions to improve the lives of non-binary people in Scotland
and tackle inequality will be taken forward.
The five year plan includes actions to support specific research
on the experiences of non-binary people in Scotland, fund
training for fertility preservation providers on trans and
non-binary healthcare needs and meaningfully include non-binary
people in decision-making by making processes accessible.
The plan is in response to the recommendations of the Scottish
Government’s Working Group on Non-Binary Equality, whose members
included non-binary people, charity representatives and
academics.
Equalities Minister said:
“Our vision is for Scotland to be a place where everyone’s
identity is recognised, respected and celebrated.
“This action plan aims to improve equality and wellbeing for
non-binary people and is the first of its kind in the UK.
“Some actions are straightforward and immediate whilst others are
long-term and systemic. However, they will all contribute to
improving the experiences of non-binary people and begin to
tackle some of the challenges that they currently face in their
everyday lives.”
Vic Valentine, Manager of Scottish Trans said:
“It is really positive to see this Action Plan published, and to
see that the Scottish Government has made public, concrete and
measurable commitments to changes that will make non-binary
people’s lives better.
“I particularly welcome the commitments that will have a positive
impact not only on non-binary people but on marginalised people
more widely: such as those that seek to make it easier and fairer
for people on benefits to participate in policy making processes
and be paid for their time, and to look at how the design of
public buildings does, or doesn’t, work for everyone in Scotland.
“As with any plan, the most important thing will be delivering.
We look forward to working with non-binary people across Scotland
to challenge the Government to turn these commitments in to real
change.”
Background
Non-Binary Equality Action
Plan
The action plan was developed following the report and recommendations
of the Non-Binary Equality Working Group, published in March
2022. The Scottish Government responded to these
recommendations in July 2022 and committed to developing an
action plan to take forward this work.
Scottish Trans define a non-binary person
as “a person identifying as either having a gender which is
in-between or beyond the two categories ‘man’ or ‘woman’, as
fluctuating between ‘man’ and ‘woman’, or as having no gender,
either permanently or some of the time.”
