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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/03/trans-people-to-be-able-to-register-new-identities-more-easily
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| Trans people to be able to register new identities more easily | Trans people to be able to register new identities more easily |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The legal process for transgender people to register their new identities is to be streamlined and made less medically intrusive, the government has said. | The legal process for transgender people to register their new identities is to be streamlined and made less medically intrusive, the government has said. |
| Launching a public consultation on changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004, Penny Mordaunt, the minister for women and equalities, said the existing procedure of obtaining a new birth certificate is too expensive and burdensome. | Launching a public consultation on changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004, Penny Mordaunt, the minister for women and equalities, said the existing procedure of obtaining a new birth certificate is too expensive and burdensome. |
| A culture change is needed to reduce the “discrimination and bigotry” that the trans community faces, she said. “In response to our national LGBT survey, trans people have told us that the current system to legally change their gender isn’t working and they find the process bureaucratic, costly and intrusive. | A culture change is needed to reduce the “discrimination and bigotry” that the trans community faces, she said. “In response to our national LGBT survey, trans people have told us that the current system to legally change their gender isn’t working and they find the process bureaucratic, costly and intrusive. |
| “We want to help people to thrive and to go about their daily life, living in the gender they choose without intrusion or fear of humiliation. This consultation is a chance for us to change the current system for the better and I look forward to hearing everyone’s views.” | “We want to help people to thrive and to go about their daily life, living in the gender they choose without intrusion or fear of humiliation. This consultation is a chance for us to change the current system for the better and I look forward to hearing everyone’s views.” |
| The number of people who have successfully obtained a gender recognition certificate – 4,910 – since the legislation came into effect is far fewer than the trans population in the UK, which is estimated to be between 200,000 and 500,000. | The number of people who have successfully obtained a gender recognition certificate – 4,910 – since the legislation came into effect is far fewer than the trans population in the UK, which is estimated to be between 200,000 and 500,000. |
| The consultation document explains that trans people are often caught in difficult situations where their legal status, birth certificate and other identity documents do not match up. | The consultation document explains that trans people are often caught in difficult situations where their legal status, birth certificate and other identity documents do not match up. |
| The consultation says that by requiring a diagnostic psychiatric report, “the process perpetuates the outdated and false assumption that being trans is a mental illness”. Applicants have to collect a range of personal documentation, including information about their medical history, finances and identity which they are required to disclose. | The consultation says that by requiring a diagnostic psychiatric report, “the process perpetuates the outdated and false assumption that being trans is a mental illness”. Applicants have to collect a range of personal documentation, including information about their medical history, finances and identity which they are required to disclose. |
| “The fee of £140 and associated costs are seen as expensive and there is no right of appeal against the decision unless on a point of law,” the consultation adds. | “The fee of £140 and associated costs are seen as expensive and there is no right of appeal against the decision unless on a point of law,” the consultation adds. |
| The review is supported by the prime minster, Theresa May, who said: “What was very clear from our survey is that transgender people across the UK find the process of legally changing their gender overly bureaucratic and invasive. | The review is supported by the prime minster, Theresa May, who said: “What was very clear from our survey is that transgender people across the UK find the process of legally changing their gender overly bureaucratic and invasive. |
| “I want to see a process that is more streamlined and de-medicalised – because being trans should never be treated as an illness.” | “I want to see a process that is more streamlined and de-medicalised – because being trans should never be treated as an illness.” |
| The government has promised that the changes will not water down Equality Act protections for single-sex services or for trans people. | The government has promised that the changes will not water down Equality Act protections for single-sex services or for trans people. |
| The government’s newly released LGBT survey – which elicited more than 108,000 responses – showed that there is misunderstanding about the requirements of applying for a gender recognition certificate and many trans people find it overly bureaucratic and expensive. | |
| The 16-week consultation, which covers England and Wales, will review the process of acquiring a gender recognition certificate. It will seek comments on whether two medical reports, one showing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and the other outlining details of treatment, are needed. The consultation describes gender dysphoria as “a medical diagnosis that someone is experiencing discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex and their gender identity”. | The 16-week consultation, which covers England and Wales, will review the process of acquiring a gender recognition certificate. It will seek comments on whether two medical reports, one showing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and the other outlining details of treatment, are needed. The consultation describes gender dysphoria as “a medical diagnosis that someone is experiencing discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex and their gender identity”. |
| It will also ask whether those transitioning should require the consent of their spouse if they are married or have to demonstrate that they have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years. | It will also ask whether those transitioning should require the consent of their spouse if they are married or have to demonstrate that they have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years. |
| No decisions will be made, the government says, until the results of the consultation have been considered. The minimum age for legal gender change will not be lowered below 18. | No decisions will be made, the government says, until the results of the consultation have been considered. The minimum age for legal gender change will not be lowered below 18. |
| Welcoming the consultation, Cara English, policy engagement officer at trans charity Gendered Intelligence, said: “Meaningful reforms to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) are desperately needed if we’re going to make the process easier, less bureaucratic and exclusionary for trans and non-binary people. | Welcoming the consultation, Cara English, policy engagement officer at trans charity Gendered Intelligence, said: “Meaningful reforms to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) are desperately needed if we’re going to make the process easier, less bureaucratic and exclusionary for trans and non-binary people. |
| “It’s encouraging to see the government take the needs of LGBTQI people seriously, recognising that the GRA needs to be reformed to make it more transparent for those who need to access it. This consultation is all about highlighting the lived experiences and needs of people disenfranchised from the current GRA and giving value to their voices.” | “It’s encouraging to see the government take the needs of LGBTQI people seriously, recognising that the GRA needs to be reformed to make it more transparent for those who need to access it. This consultation is all about highlighting the lived experiences and needs of people disenfranchised from the current GRA and giving value to their voices.” |
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