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Original poster

Government says it is too complex to make changes to the GRA to include non binary

312 replies

stumbledin · 21/05/2021 19:51

As set out in the response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation, there are no plans to make changes to the 2004 Act.

Following a considerable amount of consultation with the public and representative organisations, the Government decided that the current provisions within the GRA allow for those that wish to legally change their sex to do so fairly.

The 2018 GRA consultation did not bring forward any proposals to extend the GRA to provide legal recognition to a third, or non-binary, gender. The Government noted that there were complex practical consequences for other areas of the law, service provision and public life if provision were to be made for non-binary gender recognition in the GRA.

In UK law individuals are considered to be the sex that is registered on their birth certificate – either male or female. The GRA provides a means for transgender people to change the sex on their birth certificate, but there is currently no provision for those who do not identify as male or female.

This Government wants everybody in the UK to feel safe and confident to be themselves.

We are committed to tackling all forms of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime, and are working with the Home Office on the cross-Government Hate Crime Action Plan. The Government has asked the Law Commission to review the current hate crime legislation, which includes exploring whether homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime should be considered an aggravated offence. We will also take an assessment of local support for hate crime victims and improve reporting and recording of LGBT hate crimes through supporting additional police training.

Following Parliamentary approval on 8th October 2020, voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity were included in the 2021 Census for England and Wales which took place on Sunday 21 March 2021. Final data on sexual orientation and gender identity from the 2021 Census for England and Wales will likely be available from 2023, with initial Census findings planned for publication in March 2022 (timelines subject to change as work progresses). This will help to provide more robust population size estimates for England and Wales than are currently available.

This Government is committed to supporting all LGBT people, tackling discrimination and improving the lives of all citizens.

Cabinet Office
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This is in response to a petition that I will not link to for fear this thread will get banished to the wastelands of the petition section.

But there is a news story here. uk.news.yahoo.com/non-binary-legal-recognition-too-153914753.html

OP posts:
highame · 22/05/2021 08:48

Sex is written into law from its inception. Even mad hatters such as TRA ought to at least educate themselves on the impossibility of any government bringing in changes that would include a 'spectrum' of sex. The government now has to balance single sex lavs, which has now been firmed up, VAWG which has to have sex at it's core and a multitude of other infringements on women's rights and freedom of speech, whilst also putting itself in the position of not being anti trans.

I think this will work through in time. The idiocy of some of Stonewalls expectations are now being heard and if Stonewall continues with its annihilation of women, it will continue to destroy its reputation and a destroyed reputation will not equal the power to change laws.

Our biggest threat is the takeover of public services and some organisations who ignore the law.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 22/05/2021 05:07

Thank goodness for some common sense though more than they had when they wrote the nonsense gender recognition act
Recognising non binary identities would be so far from the purpose of the GRA to make it a whole new type of legislation. You can trust that the government wouldn't be free to create more loopy laws around gender without a fight this time

NiceGerbil · 22/05/2021 04:35

Is that because pretty much everyone is non binary, according to stonewall definitions?

ChattyLion · 21/05/2021 22:24

Agree this is civil service speak for hard no.
But what’s the census count got to do with it? Either this is a real thing or it isn’t. Either it will have a huge impact on public services and resources or it won’t. Does it really matter how many people believe in it or not? Lots of people believe a lot of different things. It’s not just about anyone’s individualistic belief systems. Hmm

merrymouse · 21/05/2021 22:14

The GRA provides a means for transgender people to change the sex on their birth certificate

To protect privacy, not because it’s possible to literally change sex.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/05/2021 22:09

@Thingybob

In UK law individuals are considered to be the sex that is registered on their birth certificate – either male or female.

But Stonewall tells us different

Individuals are male or female, and that's what's registered on their birth certificates.

If stonewall 'thinks' differently, it's out of touch with both the law and plain reality.

FemaleAndLearning · 21/05/2021 22:04

Hurrah for common sense!

Thingybob · 21/05/2021 21:55

In UK law individuals are considered to be the sex that is registered on their birth certificate – either male or female.

But Stonewall tells us different

OldCrone · 21/05/2021 21:49

The Government noted that there were complex practical consequences for other areas of the law, service provision and public life if provision were to be made for non-binary gender recognition in the GRA

Well, obviously, because the legally non binary people wouldn't be able to use any services or facilities which are currently segregated by sex. So in addition to the current provision, every hospital would have to have non binary wards, there would have to be non binary prisons or prison wings, and so on.

But how have we got to a place where people are identifying as not having a sex?

LizzieSiddal · 21/05/2021 21:42

Thank goodness for some common sense.

Mollyollydolly · 21/05/2021 21:35

Translation. We cant legislate for something that doesn't exist.

Cleanandpress · 21/05/2021 21:20

Oh that's sad. I'm sure Stonewall can sell them a certificate for 5 pounds.