Where can I find everything one might need to know on Scotland and the GRA reforms there? I follow many Scottish women on Twitter but I’d be really grateful for links anyone has to summary articles/ websites about the GC position there. Thanks!
Nothing much happened for a while but we did manage to have a mini women's rights debate in Parliament over the Census questions: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1bUJH9fUN8 which is still ongoing!
And then Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville gave a statement to Parliament in June announcing her intention to introduce a draft Bill before the end of this year. It plans to remove the medical requirements of the GRA and have 3 months living in acquired gender before signing a statutory declaration, followed by another 3 month reflection period before birth certificates can be changed. news.gov.scot/speeches-and-briefings/statement-on-gender-recognition
The awful school guidance written by LGBT Youth is to be replaced with government written guidance, and a working group has been set up to look at data collection, sex and gender.
But despite many promises in her statement on the importance of understanding women's concerns and meeting with women's groups, SA Somerville has refused to meet any non-government funded groups. forwomen.scot/17/09/2019/consultation-with-stakeholders/
SA Somerville has refused to meet any non-government funded groups.
That is really quite blatant. The purpose of a public consultation is to consult the public, not get your biased fait accompli agenda endorsed by approved government mouthpieces.
They are also planning legislation around gender equality on public boards where the definition of ‘woman’ is having a stereotypically female name on your gas bill for a few months.
So are they consulting again about the GRA just now? Still waiting to hear what form the consultation will take, but it may just be on the details of the draft Bill eg. should it be a 3 month or 4 month reflective period.
The Gender Representation on Public Boards Act is already law, the recent consultation was on how best to implement it. It's all immaterial anyway as we could have 100% male boards and still be deemed to have a successful outcome under this Act - because it could well be 50% women but we're not even allowed to ask what their gas bills say!
Also a reminder that groups are not considered for government funding unless they demonstrate full inclusiveness which is why the only opposition has come from grass roots. There question was asked in parliament last year, sorry don't have a link.
I remember it from a thread on here and how shocking it was to realise that so many charities/groups/schools etc are wholly reliant on government funding to survive and so have effectively had the option to question policy removed from them, a government sponsored silencing of dissent.
That is how this policy has gotten so far unchallenged, that is how Murray ended up being thrown out of school for challenging a teacher, that is how Cornton Vale ended up housing men.
So proud of our grass roots uprising in Scotland and the domino effect now rippling via our braver female politicians
