So discussions on this have been all over me feed this week, decided to do some digging on the original law and what the proposed changes are to it. Results are interesting to say the least.
So the Gender Reform Act (GRA) was brought into UK law in 2004 and basically gives trans people the ability to change their gender on official documents. To do this, trans people need to meet many requirements and show specific evidence to a panel for approval (source):
The 'Standard' Track
- Applicant must be 18 or over.
- A statutory declaration that the trans person intends to live permanently in their acquired gender until death.
- Application fee of up to £140
- Two medical reports – confirming that the applicant has, or has had, gender dysphoria and including details of any treatment the applicant has had to modify their body, e.g. hormone treatment or surgery.
- Evidence that the applicant has lived full time in their acquired gender for at least two years. This might include, for example, documentation displaying the individual’s name and gender marker.
- If married, the spouse must issue a statutory declaration of consent.
- The applicant cannot be in a civil partnership unless both they and their partner get legal recognition on the same day.
The 'Alternate' Track
This is the same as the standard track except:
- Only one medical report is needed – either confirming the applicant has, or has had, gender dysphoria or that they have had surgery for the purposes of modifying their sexual characteristics.
- The applicant must be in a protected marriage or civil partnership on or before the date the application is made.
- Evidence needs to show that the applicant has lived full time in their acquired gender for at least six years prior to 10 December 2014, and continues to do so.
- The applicant must be ordinarily resident in England, Wales or Scotland.
There is also one for people overseas, which is pretty similar.
Now the proposed reforms are due to many trans people feeling that the current system is just completely inappropriate. According to the above document, trans people claim that the current process is too bureaucratic (38%) and too expensive (34%), with 44% of respondents saying that they did not satisfy the requirements, 19% saying they could not get the help they needed to put a successful application together and 8% saying that they did not want to submit medical information. There is also a concern for trans kids not being able to apply, citing the increase of in referrals to gender services from under 18s in recent years.
So, the proposed changes aren't official yet (to my knowledge), but some of the current suggestions include (source):
Obviously some of these proposed changes are... 'controversial' to put it politely and are causing quite the stir. Namely, debates around women-only spaces and the issues with self-identifying as trans vs medical diagnosis. Requiring a gender dysphoria diagnosis is apparently implying trans people are mentally ill, which is transphobic. Also, according to the gov report, of those that responded, around 52% of those who considered themselves trans also considered themselves non-binary, so they need recognition and inclusion.
It's very hard to find non-biased reporting on this whole issue, so keep that in mind if you want to read up on this for yourselves. Not sure how I personally feel about this, but as I am #cis #scum my opinion doesn't really matter anyway. The consultation on the reform ends in a couple of weeks, so we could soon be seeing some more official proposals and, likely, big fallouts between trans and 'TERF' groups. Feminist groups have been protesting at many pride events in the UK this season, claiming trans women aren't women etc, and pissing everyone at the parades off, so you know if this stuff passes it's gonna blow the fuck up.
Kiwis, discuss.
So the Gender Reform Act (GRA) was brought into UK law in 2004 and basically gives trans people the ability to change their gender on official documents. To do this, trans people need to meet many requirements and show specific evidence to a panel for approval (source):
The 'Standard' Track
- Applicant must be 18 or over.
- A statutory declaration that the trans person intends to live permanently in their acquired gender until death.
- Application fee of up to £140
- Two medical reports – confirming that the applicant has, or has had, gender dysphoria and including details of any treatment the applicant has had to modify their body, e.g. hormone treatment or surgery.
- Evidence that the applicant has lived full time in their acquired gender for at least two years. This might include, for example, documentation displaying the individual’s name and gender marker.
- If married, the spouse must issue a statutory declaration of consent.
- The applicant cannot be in a civil partnership unless both they and their partner get legal recognition on the same day.
The 'Alternate' Track
This is the same as the standard track except:
- Only one medical report is needed – either confirming the applicant has, or has had, gender dysphoria or that they have had surgery for the purposes of modifying their sexual characteristics.
- The applicant must be in a protected marriage or civil partnership on or before the date the application is made.
- Evidence needs to show that the applicant has lived full time in their acquired gender for at least six years prior to 10 December 2014, and continues to do so.
- The applicant must be ordinarily resident in England, Wales or Scotland.
There is also one for people overseas, which is pretty similar.
Now the proposed reforms are due to many trans people feeling that the current system is just completely inappropriate. According to the above document, trans people claim that the current process is too bureaucratic (38%) and too expensive (34%), with 44% of respondents saying that they did not satisfy the requirements, 19% saying they could not get the help they needed to put a successful application together and 8% saying that they did not want to submit medical information. There is also a concern for trans kids not being able to apply, citing the increase of in referrals to gender services from under 18s in recent years.
So, the proposed changes aren't official yet (to my knowledge), but some of the current suggestions include (source):
- To remove the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
- To remove the requirement for any medical or psychological treatment.
- There is no need for a period of reflection. Trans people know who they are and retaining a period of reflection would contribute to stigma against trans people as it would imply their ability to self-determine is not adequate.
- To remove the requirement for an applicant to have lived in their ‘acquired gender’ for two years. This can lead to violations of the right to privacy and non-discrimination and reinforces gender stereotypes.
- To remove spousal veto.
- Children and young people should have access to legal gender recognition
- Non-binary people need legal recognition
- Trans women are women and there is no risk to single sex services
Obviously some of these proposed changes are... 'controversial' to put it politely and are causing quite the stir. Namely, debates around women-only spaces and the issues with self-identifying as trans vs medical diagnosis. Requiring a gender dysphoria diagnosis is apparently implying trans people are mentally ill, which is transphobic. Also, according to the gov report, of those that responded, around 52% of those who considered themselves trans also considered themselves non-binary, so they need recognition and inclusion.
It's very hard to find non-biased reporting on this whole issue, so keep that in mind if you want to read up on this for yourselves. Not sure how I personally feel about this, but as I am #cis #scum my opinion doesn't really matter anyway. The consultation on the reform ends in a couple of weeks, so we could soon be seeing some more official proposals and, likely, big fallouts between trans and 'TERF' groups. Feminist groups have been protesting at many pride events in the UK this season, claiming trans women aren't women etc, and pissing everyone at the parades off, so you know if this stuff passes it's gonna blow the fuck up.
Kiwis, discuss.
