Thank
you to constituents who have been writing to me about their concerns regarding
the Sunday Times’ report on the draft report of Gender Recognition Act.
No 10 have now clarified that: “The report on the GRA
Consultation is not yet finalised and the Prime Minister will have
the final say on the recommendations.”
Transgenderism and rights for transgender people are issues of
particular sensitivity and it is right that the Government ran an extended
public consultation on Gender Recognition Act back in 2018 – I do hope that
constituents with strong views on the matter have had a chance
to respond to the consultation exercise and make their points directly to the
Government: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act-2004
Personally, I am against any moves to weaken our clear gender
identities but I am also aware that there are those who struggle with these
issues, who need support and help.
And so I do have my concerns about the possibility making the
process of obtaining recognition of gender change progressively easier.
One of the strongest arguments that have been put forward against
these measures is that they could bring unintended harm to women by forcing
them to share toilets and changing rooms with men who self-identify as women
and have not undergone any form of sex reassignment surgery. Predatory men who
disguise themselves as cross-dressers and have no claim to identifying as women
whatsoever, should not be given any opportunity to take advantage of women
through this change in the law.
Furthermore I note that the Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz
Truss, has recently delivered a speech to the Women and Equalities Select
Committee in which she set out her ministerial priorities which would be of
interest to you:
“First of all, the protection of single-sex spaces, which is
extremely important.
Secondly making sure that transgender adults are free to
live their lives as they wish without fear of persecution, whilst maintaining
the proper checks and balances in the system.
Finally, which is not a direct issue concerning the Gender
Recognition Act, but is relevant, making sure that the under 18s are protected
from decisions that they could make, that are irreversible in the future. I
believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to lead their lives as
they see fit, but I think it’s very important that while people are still
developing their decision-making capabilities that we protect them from making
those irreversible decisions. Of course some of these policies have been
delayed, Chair, by the specific issues around Covid but I can assure you that
alongside the Covid work, our officials continue to do those things to make
them happen.”
I was certainly very much encouraged by the sensible and balanced
approach the minister has committed to take, which
recognises the sensitivity and strength of feeling expressed by all sides in
this matter but also the importance of ensuring that people are offered
adequate protection.
Constituents can be assured that I will continue to be aware of
the importance of this issue to them and closely monitor developments with the
Gender Recognition Act going forward.
