Defining sex in the Scottish Census

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

www.scottishparliament.tv/channel/committee-room-2

Bloke on just now arguing that they are not allowed to ask for biological sex, and should be asking for lived for sex

This is the committee that Rosa Freedman was giving evidence to.

Good question about what living as a woman actually means

It's all about feelings of course.

Trans people just know

Ross Greer: how will it affect intersex people?

Intersex should be a protected characteristic

Tim Hopkins very strongly against asking for biological sex on census

Tim Hopkins arguing that sex is changeable. Chromosomes are not a black and white indicator of sex.

If sex question is compulsory, must not answer about sex at birth.

Must protect Transwomen privacy. In a household individuals should be able to fill out form privately. Must be nothing in form that shows Transwomen are transwomen.

Asking about rapid growth of trans community.

MSP: How to reassure women about safe spaces?

Tim Hopkins: speak to orgs providing services to vulnerable women eg rape crisis which are trans inclusive

MSP: non-binary. What does some of the time mean? How can we have robust census data if someone has identity some of the time.

Vic Valentine: trans person who does not feel wholly man or woman. Fluctuating gender identity means non-binary.

MSP: are you saying gender identity is psychological?

Vic Valentine: yes

MSP: vulnerable women. Exemptions for some things eg personal care. Puts onus on vulnerable woman to prove they should be exempted.

MSP: this would not be a good thing

Vic Valentine: gender fluid.not trans. Not eleigible for women roles.

MSP: but who decides all this?! We need legal precise definitions.

MSP: need to reflect right of all

Tim Hopkins; is compulsory question about bio / legal / self.ID sex?

Self ID sex used for sex for.last.20 years

MSP: census planning for services for future. What happens if people change their mind about identity after they fill.out census as one or the other?

Vic Valentine; sex.data useful as a whole, but don't need.to kniw disaggregate individual responses. Doesn't need to be person precise.