The Women and Equalities Committee will publish their report on reforming the Gender Recognition Act later this year.
© UK Government
Launched in October, in response to the UK Government’s own consultation, the committee are seeking to ascertain whether the reforms proposed go far enough, whether further changes need to be made, and the potential for wider reforms.
They’re also looking to understand why the number of those applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) is so low compared to the number of people identifying as transgender, whether legal reforms need to be made to support non-binary and gender fluid people, and whether the provisions for single/separate sex spaces and facilities are clear and usable.
After many months of gathering evidence from over 100,000 people and over 140 organisations, in September the UK Government published their findings on the Gender Recognition Act.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Minister for Women and Equalities Liz Truss said that the government believed there were already “proper checks and balances in the system” and support for people who want to change their legal sex.
However, she acknowledged that the process for obtaining a GRC needed to be improved. Therefore, the proposals taken forward were that the whole certification process should move online and that the cost of obtaining a certificate should be lowered from £140 to a “nominal amount”. The government also pledged to open three new gender clinics, in a bid to cut waiting times.
At the time, whilst welcoming the proposal to open new gender clinics, Chief Executive of Stonewall, Nancy Kelley, said: “The UK Government has fallen far short on its promise to reform the Gender Recognition Act and has missed a key opportunity to progress LGBT equality.”
Opening this latest inquiry, the Women and Equalities Committee chair, the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, said: “The Government has said it wants to make the process of applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate “kinder and more straightforward”, make it a fully online process, and reduce the fee. Which is progress - but is it enough?
“We’re seeking views about what other changes may be required to improve trans equality: to the Gender Recognition Act, or to other legislation - for example the Equality Act, to support services and facilities, and on legal reforms which could improve right for gender fluid and non-binary people.”
To date, the committee – which includes Pontypridd MP Alex Davies – have heard from academics and experts at oral evidence sessions. They have also received written evidence from the likes of Stonewall, The Pankhurst Trust, the LGBT Foundation, and many members of the public.
The Women and Equalities Committee will publish their report this summer.