Ongoing discussions on this topic are in this thread. -> www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3929533-Scottish-Government-redefines-woman-in-law
I decided to split this off into a separate thread so it is more visible and won't get lost within the pages of the one above.
For Women Scotland have published a template that you can use to email your MSPs. Please do so if you can.
The entire newsletter can be read at mailchi.mp/1c0d4ab1e1dd/onwards-from-the-grr-bill.
The relevant bit for the template is copied below.
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Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018
The vast majority of responses to the Government's consultation on statutory guidelines for the GRPBA objected to the definition of "woman" (see the article in the Scotsman). Despite this, the Government quickly pressed ahead with publication of guidelines which enforce the Act, and which leave the definition unchanged.
We have sought legal opinion on pursuing a judicial review to challenge this Act, and initial advice looks promising. We'll keep you updated as we progress, but in the meantime it would be helpful if everyone could contact all 8 of their MSPs to express concern and ask them to take further action.
A template is provided below but please amend it as you wish. To contact your constituent MSP and your 7 regional MSPs just put in your postcode here. www.theyworkforyou.com/scotland/
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Dear [Name of MSP],
I am writing to you regarding the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018. An analysis of responses to the public consultation, published on 3rd April, found that "much of the feedback focused on concerns raised regarding terminology and definitions used in the Act. More specifically, the term "gender" and the definition of "woman" for the purposes of the Act."
www.gov.scot/publications/analysis-consultation-implementation-gender-representation-public-boards-scotland-act-2018/
The Government failed to take these concerns into account and have since published the Statutory Guidance for the Act, with the definition unchanged.
The test for "living as a woman" in the guidance is offensive and seems to exclude many women, as well as include many men into the category of women. In no way does this contribute to the stated aim of the Act, ie. to improve the representation of women on the boards of Scottish public authorities.
As we already have an established definition of "woman" in the Equality Act as being "a female of any age", I would ask you to write to Christina McKelvie, Minister for Equalities to request the Government urgently reconsiders the Statutory Guidance.
Could you also ask Ms McKelvie on what grounds the Government disregarded the majority of responses to the consultation, and what legal advice the Government received regarding its authority to undermine key definitions in reserved legislation?
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]