Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
The Bill changes the process to get a gender recognition certificate (GRC). A GRC is a certificate that legally recognises that a person’s gender is not the gender that they were assigned at birth, but is their “acquired gender”.
The current process for obtaining a GRC is set out in the Gender Recognition Act 2004. This Bill amends that Act to make a new process in Scotland.
The Bill sets out:
- who can apply for a GRC
- how to make an application
- the grounds on which an application is to be granted
It also makes provision about:
- different types of GRC that may be issued in different circumstances (“full” GRCs and “interim” GRCs)
- appeals and reviews of decisions to grant (or not grant) GRCs
- revocation of a GRC and offences in connection with false information being provided in an application
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill as introduced
The Bill is at Stage 1
Contents
Stage 1 - General principles
Committees examine the Bill and gather views. They produce reports before MSPs debate the Bill in the Chamber. MSPs then decide on the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.
The Bill is at Stage 1
Committee Examination
The lead committee for this Bill is the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Find out more about this committee
Stage 1 Timetable
Parliament agreed that consideration of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 28 October 2022.
Responses to the call for views
The call for views ended on 16 May 2022.
Read the summary of short survey responses555.1KB pdf posted 23 May 2022
The Committee also held an informal briefing with officials from the Scottish Government’s Bill Team on 15 March to better understand the provisions in the Bill before starting formal oral evidence at stage 1. The Committee will hear from the Cabinet Secretary at conclusion of its evidence taking.
As agreed at its meeting of 15 March, the Committee held two informal, private engagement sessions with trans people and other stakeholders.
Read the summary of the informal session with the Scottish Government officials71.5KB pdf posted 26 May 2022
Read the summary of the private engagement sessions250.7KB pdf posted 26 May 2022
On 7 June, the Committee took private evidence from an anonymous witness.
Read the notes from the private evidence session with an anonymous witness183KB pdf posted 22 June 2022
On 20 June, the Committee held two informal, private engagement sessions with members of parent support groups.
Read the summary of the private engagement sessions197.1KB pdf posted 18 July 2022
On 27 June, the Committee held two informal, private engagement sessions with people with lived experiences.
Read the summary of the private engagement sessions178.4KB pdf posted 18 July 2022
Who spoke to the lead committee in the Parliament
MSPs met with people in committee meetings to discuss what the Bill will do.
Minutes of 15 March 2022 (private)
Minutes of 17 May 2022
Minutes of 24 May 2022
Minutes of 31 May 2022
Minutes of 7 June 2022
Minutes of 14 June 2022
Minutes of 21 June 2022
Minutes of 22 June 2022
Minutes of 28 June 2022
Meeting on 17 May 2022
Correspondence
The correspondence the Committee sent and received while the Bill progressed through Parliament.
David Parker Supplementary Written Evidence
Supplementary written evidence sent by David Parker, Lead Clinician, National Gender Identity Clinical Network for Scotland to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, 22 June 2022
Royal College of General Practitioners
Written evidence sent by the Royal College of General Practitioners to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, 7 June 2022
Supplementary evidence from Scottish Trans LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall
Joint supplementary written evidence sent by Scottish Trans and Equality Network, LGBT Youth Scotland, and Stonewall Scotland to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, 3 June 2022
Work by other committees
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Report published on 16 May 2022
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Committee report
The lead committee will publish a Stage 1 report in due course.
The Committee received the following responses to its report –
Responses will be published here.