Scotland passes Gender Recognition Reform Bill, making it easier to legally change sex

Edinburgh [Scotland]Dec 23 (ANI): Scottish lawmakers have passed a controversial law that will make it easier for transgender people to legally change their gender, despite a toxic debate that has split the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), The Scotsman, a Scottish newspaper, has reported.

Now passed, the bill is set to receive royal assent, which will lower the minimum age for those seeking a gender recognition certificate to 16 and reduce the time it takes for an applicant to live out their acquired gender from two years to three months .

It also eliminates the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria to obtain the certificate.

The law, which won 86 votes to 39 on Thursday (local time), was passed after a marathon week of parliamentary scrutiny.

During the passage of the latest law, the SNP suffered for the second time the largest rebellion in the history of the Scottish Parliament, with nine rebels in the government voting against the bill.

Scottish Labor also saw two of its junior spokesmen resign after cracking the whip and voting against the bill, according to The Scotsman.

Claire Baker and Carol Mochan, Scottish Labour’s spokespeople for drugs and mental health respectively, resigned immediately following the vote. Michael Mara, the party’s education spokesman, and Pauline McNeill, the party’s justice spokesman, were given leave so they could avoid the vote.

The Scottish Conservatives, who gave their MSPs the right to vote, saw the bill backed by three members – two more than at the first stage, The Scotsman reports.

However, the UK government immediately stepped in and suggested it could use powers never before used under the Scotland Act to block the bill in the High Court.

Section 35 of the Scotland Act allows the UK government to step in and block a bill if the UK government believes that it changes the law on reserved matters or has a negative effect on the operation of the law on reserved matters.

After the final vote, Scottish Minister Alistair Jack said the government should consider action in the Supreme Court and that many people were concerned about some aspects of the bill, particularly the safety of women and children, The Scotsman reported.

“We will be looking closely at this, as well as the implications for the Equality Act 2010 and other UK-wide legislation in the coming weeks – including the section 35 order, which stops the bill from being referred to royal assent if necessary,” The Scotsman said. quoted Jack as saying.

However, Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, said it would be “hugely disappointing” if the bill was blocked after a “decisive” yes vote.

She said: “It would be very disappointing if the UK Government did not respect Scottish democracy and the decision of the Scottish Parliament. This policy area is completely within the remit.” (ANI)