Religious groups have been excluded from talks over proposed gender reform in Scotland, it has been claimed.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is continuing its push for reforms to the Gender Recognition Act to allow individuals aged 16+ to change gender without a doctor’s certificate confirming gender dysphoria. Under the proposals, individuals will only have to live as the ‘acquired’ gender for three months instead of the current two years.
Despite promising to consult widely, a Freedom of Information request revealed that, since May 2021, SNP ministers met with five government-funded groups, including Scottish Trans Alliance, Stonewall Scotland. However, no meetings were held with major religious groups, the Daily Telegraph reported.
A public consultation closed in March 2020. Out of 215 responses from organisations, 54 were LGBT or transgender organisations and 35 were religious or belief groups.
In England, similar proposals have been criticised as ‘out of touch’ with the general public mood. Following a report of the cross-party Women and Equalities Committee of MPs calling for a shift to self-declaration with no requirement of living for two years in the acquired gender, the Christian Institute (CI) pointed out the lack of public support.
Simon Calvert from the CI said recent polling showed 71% of the public think those wishing to change gender should be assessed by expert medical professionals. He added that the system of self-declaration is ‘a danger to women’.
