Today member of the House of Lords questioned the Baroness Berridge, Minister for Women, on the Government’s Response to the Consultation on the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
Lord Collins said:
A consultation over 2 years, over 100,000 responses, the vast majority backing reform. The result – a continuation of lengthy process that the Women and Equalities Committee said “runs contrary to the dignity and personal autonomy of applicants.”
What evidence does the Noble Lord have that medicalisation remains necessary from the jurisdictions which don’t medicalise the process?
The APPG on Global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights presented a report to Liz Truss in July.
We sought to deliver reassurance around trans people -but also to deliver trans rights. Did the Noble Lord see or consider the report & can she explain why it was rejected? - bearing in mind it was backed by the LGBT Groups of the main political parties including her own.
This decision has caused huge hurt to the trans community and Labour believes is simply wrong.
Baroness Barker stated that:
Digitising a system which dehumanises our fellow citizens isn't kindness. It is callous and cynical, as the repeated use of the phrase "trans people and women" makes clear. One question for the Minister. Will the Government amend the Equality Act or guidance issued under it. Yes or no?
Lord Cashman said:
My Lords, the Secretary of State’s response is woefully inadequate and fails to take account of the Government’s own consultation, so it is clear to me that the Secretary of State is not in command of this brief. Indeed, it took her four and a half months to respond to my letter on this issue—this is at a time when gross defamation and misrepresentation of trans people, particularly trans women, has been whipped up by the media and some Members of your Lordships’ House.
Therefore, will the Minister explain how the Government will address the real needs of trans people, as indicated overwhelmingly in the consultation, and will she clarify the statement by the Secretary of State that self-declaration would be abused by men? What evidence of widespread abuse does the Secretary of State have from other jurisdictions that have moved to self-ID, or does the Secretary of State believe that British men are uniquely abusive?
The debate can be watched in full here, and the Hansard record here.