Scottish gender recognition reform may have unintended harms for health and healthcare

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which allows people to be “legally recognised in their acquired gender,” is reaching its final stages in the Scottish parliament. At present, people who wish to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) have to “live in their acquired gender” for two years, and provide medical evidence of a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.1 The Scottish government wants change because “trans people should not have to go through this intrusive process in order to be legally recognised in their lived gender.”2The proposed bill removes the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Applicants would have to “live in their acquired gender”—although that is not clearly defined—for three months before applying, followed by a further three months’ reflection period with a statutory declaration that they intend to continue to live in their acquired gender.1The minimum age for applicants would drop from 18 to 16. As now,…
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