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STATEMENT FROM DIRECTOR OF STONEWALL SCOTLAND
Colin Macfarlane (he/him), Director of Stonewall Scotland and Northern Ireland said in October 2022:
“The mandate of the Scottish Government and the majority of political parties in the Scottish Government to reform the Gender Recognition Act is overwhelming. The proposed reforms are one of the most consulted on in the Scottish Parliament’s history. In May this year, the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee undertook ten weeks of detailed evidence on the proposals hearing from a wide range of witnesses both in favour and opposed to the reforms. Later this month MSPs will begin debating the proposed Bill.
While we welcome the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s call for the Scottish and UK Governments to work together to implement this legislation, we believe that this intervention from the Commission only continues to undermine their credibility in Scotland on this matter. Up until February this year, the Commission were supportive of the proposals and they have so far failed to provide any evidence to back up their new found opposition to moving to a de-medicalised model for legal recognition in line with international best practice as proposed by the Scottish Government.
Issues of cross border recognition of Gender Recognition Certificate changes would not be difficult to navigate given that the UK already recognises equivalent certificates from all EU/EEA countries, including by countries which have a de-medicalised model of legal gender recognition. These birth certificates are automatically recognised in England and Wales. The Commission has failed to provide any credible evidence as to why Scotland would be an outlier if these reforms are passed.’’
STONEWALL STATEMENT - JANUARY 2023:
Ending reciprocal recognition of Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) from countries that support trans people changing their legal gender using a self-determination model is a disgraceful low for the UK Government’s approach to LGBTQ+ rights.
This comes as the UK Government considers challenging the Scottish Government’s mandate to implement the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill - a bill that was passed with overwhelming cross-party support from MSPs in December 2022.
Trans people from countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand have had their gender recognition certificates respected by the UK for years. Seeking to end this system is an extraordinary move, not based on evidence or experience, that will effectively serve as a ‘trans travel ban’.
Ending recognition of GRCs from as many as fourteen countries who are our close allies and seeking to block implementation of the Scottish GRR Bill have significant consequences for trans people who are directly affected. But this also sends a message that the UK Government sees trans people as a threat to be contained, not citizens to be respected.
These moves cut against the inclusive values that characterise modern Britain and will actively harm the UK’s international reputation as an open, diverse and dynamic society - one of the reasons why global corporations that proudly support LGBTQ+ rights are attracted to doing business in the UK. They will have significant political consequences in the UK and internationally.
