Why we're worried about the Government’s statement on trans rights legislation
Yesterday, the Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss announced that the government’s response to a consultation to reform a piece of trans rights legislation (the Gender Recognition Act) will be delivered by the summer. Our Director of Campaigns, Policy and Research Laura Russell explains why it was a concerning announcement.
During times of crisis, it’s important we don’t forget the most marginalised communities.
Trans people still experience profound discrimination in every area of their lives; from employment, to access to health services. A crisis like COVID-19 risks deepening those inequalities.
Trans people still experience profound discrimination in every area of their lives; from employment, to access to health services. A crisis like COVID-19 risks deepening those inequalities.
So yesterday, when the Minister for Women and Equalities gave a speech to the Select Committee, we were hoping to learn more about the next steps for reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) and other plans to support LGBT equality in the UK.
It’s been over two years since plans to reform the Act were announced and nearly a year and half since the Government’s GRA consultation closed, and we’re still waiting to hear about the results.
The Minister did announce the Government will be putting forward proposals for GRA reform ‘by summer’. However, she also made some worrying points that we - and the wider LGBT community - need to understand more about urgently.
The Minister commented on trans people’s access to single-sex services and the ‘checks and balances’ that will be in the new system. For many years, trans people have been using services that match their gender without issue and this should not change.
For many years, trans people have been using single-sex services that match their gender without issue and this should not change.
She also spoke about something that, as she acknowledged, ‘is not a direct issue concerning the Gender Recognition Act’, and that’s access to medical care for trans children and young people.
While we don’t know exactly what the Government will propose, the Minister said she wants to make sure ‘that the under 18s are protected from decisions that they could make, that are irreversible in the future’.
This is concerning because it sounds similar to how young lesbian, gay and bi people were spoken about in the 1980s.
When Stonewall was campaigning to oppose Section 28, we were often told that young lesbian, gay and bi people are impressionable, vulnerable and don’t understand themselves.
Today, we know this simply isn’t the case and is thankfully something we hear far less often. So we can’t let history repeat itself and a roll back of existing rights happen because the same arguments are now being made about trans people.
When Stonewall was campaigning to oppose Section 28, we were often told that young lesbian, gay and bi people are impressionable, vulnerable and don’t understand themselves. We can’t let history repeat itself.
The Government, and the Equality Act, recognise that trans people exist and they should have the same rights to live their life without discrimination and abuse as everyone else. Trans young people should not be an exception to this.
Trans young people already face huge waiting times to access support services and the care they need. We need to make sure that the system supports all children and young people to have the time and space to explore who they are, with the right support and information.
This goes to the core of Stonewall’s values as campaigners for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality; all children and young people deserve the best care, support and understanding, so that they can live happy, healthy lives.
We will be raising these issues with the Minister. We look forward to working with her and the Government Equalities Office to understand their plans in more detail and make sure the new Gender Recognition Act means that all trans people are accepted without exception.