Sovereignty’s stance on gender recognition reform
Why is society being turned upside down for the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act (GRR) for what, for some, is a whim, for others, an opportunity to commit evil? Those with genuine gender dysphoria are almost irrelevant in this social engineering exercise.
We should all believe in looking after minorities, and their rights and interests. The question is what is best for someone with gender dysphoria?
Although GRR has become government policy, one wonders whether it is being driven by the agenda of other organisations. Should the Scottish Government take instruction from organisations such as Stonewall? Activist organisations have a viewpoint, and are entitled to suggest policy, but should not be in control of government policy.
Why has the SNP surrendered control on this issue? Their partners in government, the Scottish Greens seem to be driving this course of action, and yet their view of society is a perverse one.
There is a very small number of people who suffer from genuine gender dysphoria and they need help, which should not stop.
Under the GRR what seems to be happening is that people who think they have or wish to have gender dysphoria, are being fast-tracked for gender reassignment with the complicity of government. Self ID is open to abuse, with examples emerging in particular from our prisons.
Why is this happening?How on earth can we allow this to continue?
Sovereignty believes that those suffering from gender dysphoria should be looked after, but not rushed towards lifechanging procedures.
Sovereignty believes that single-sex spaces should remain single sex, and not undermined by self-ID.
Sovereignty believes it would be best if the Scottish Parliament voted down the GRR at the first opportunity.
The current situation
Under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 persons aged 18 and above who identify as transgender can receive a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) – providing legal recognition of their ‘acquired gender’. Before issuing a GRC, a Gender Recognition Panel must be satisfied that the applicant:
- Has, or has had, gender dysphoria
- Has lived in the acquired gender for two years
- Intends to continue to live in the acquired gender until death
The proposal
The Scottish Government introduced its Gender Recognition Reform Bill on 2 March 2022. This contentious legislation seeks to simplify the process by which a person may obtain a GRC.
If the Gender Recognition Reform Bill is passed in Scotland, it would:
- Remove the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and allow ‘self-ID’
- Appoint the Registrar General as decision-maker in place of a panel
- Shorten the period for living in an acquired gender to three months
- Lower the age at which an application for a GRC is allowed to 16
Sovereignty’s position
Sovereignty opposes the Scottish Government’s plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act. Our concerns fall under four categories:
1. Women’s rights and safety
The proposal to de-medicalise the process and allow self-declaration of sex has implications for women and girls.
Women’s rights will be significantly impacted by a law that allows any male to self-identify as the opposite sex and acquire new legal rights of access to single sex services and occupations.
It is not at all clear how the government intends to prevent men with nefarious motives from assuming a female identity under a new, permissive self-ID system to access women-only spaces.
Self-ID policies in place in other jurisdictions, and in our own prison system, have been seized upon by men who wish to perpetrate abuse against women.
2. Children’s safety
Lowering the age at which a GRC is obtainable to 16 and introducing a short three-month reflection period as grounds for accessing a GRC also presents a safeguarding risk to children.
A decision to acquire a new legal ‘gender’ can have life-changing implications for vulnerable and impressionable teens, further-establishing them on a path to irreversible medical interventions.
The tragic, and mounting, testimonies of detransitioners are profoundly concerning and are cause for more caution and safeguards in this area, not less.
The draft Bill contains no provision for what appears to be an increase in the number of people wishing to de-transition to their birth sex.
3. Reversing transitioning
Dependent on what stage transitioning is, an individual may not be able to reverse some of the procedures.
4. Data recording
Persons who obtain a GRC will be able to identify as the opposite sex on official documentation in different areas. This will affect the accuracy of said data, and any analysis of it.
Notes
https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/gender-recognition-reform-scotland-bill