Lib Dems joint letter with Alliance, SNP, Greens and others
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats are proud to sign a joint letter to the Prime Minister, calling on him to intervene in the decision taken by Secretary of State Alister Jack and allow the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill to be sent for Royal Assent.
The letter has also been signed by the LGBT+ groups of the Alliance Party, Green Party (both Scottish and England & Wales), SDLP and SNP.
To share the cross-party letter on twitter use this link https://twitter.com/lgbtld/status/1615452056050884612
The letter reads as below:
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
17th January 2023
Dear Prime Minister,
We, the undersigned, as the LGBTQ+ affiliates of our respective political parties, urge you to intervene in the decision taken by your Secretary of State Alister Jack and allow the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill to be sent for Royal Assent.
This bill was passed democratically by two-thirds majority of the Scottish Parliament, including votes from every political party in the parliament: The SNP, Scottish Tories, Scottish Labour, Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats. This shows that this bill, passed across party lines, has wide support in the democratically elected Scottish Parliament. It is also the most consulted-upon piece of legislation in the history of devolution.
Contrary to Mr Jack's statement, this bill does not affect 'GB-wide equalities matters' - a reference to the Equality Act (2010). A Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) does not govern access to single-sex spaces and the exemptions under the Equality Act can still apply to those with a GRC. Prisons already make decisions on trans prisoners on a case-by-case basis in Scotland and this will not change. This legislation does not change the effect of a GRC and merely simplifies the process of obtaining one.
While this was not raised in Mr Jack's statement to the media, there has also been significant discussion of the creation of different legal rights for 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland in comparison with the rest of the UK. It is a fact that pre-dates devolution that Scots obtain many rights of adulthood at age 16 - such as to marry, to leave school without condition, and to vote in local and Scottish elections - that English young people do not. This has not previously been seen as a condition for interfering in Scotland's democratic processes.
The effect of a GRC - which is unchanged by this legislation - is to allow a trans person to change their birth certificate to their correct gender. The effect of this legislation is to allow them to do this in a shorter time with fewer administrative burdens. Birth certificates are not used as identification in day to day life and there are already easier processes available to change a passport or driving licence. The main use of a birth certificate is to allow marriage and death certificates to be recorded in the correct gender, ensuring the human dignity of trans people's lives being accurately recorded. Why should we not afford them that dignity?
We urge you and your government to reconsider this move, in order to both respect trans people and the democracy of Scotland.
Signed:
Dylan Lewis-Creser and Cade Hatton
Co-Chairs, LGBTIQA+ Greens of England and Wales
Michael Gibbons and Erin Lux
Co-Convenors, Out for Independence
Beth Douglas
Co-Convenor, Rainbow Greens (Scotland)
OisÃn Donnelly
Chair, SDLP LGBT+
Charley Hasted
Chair, LGBT+ Lib Dems
Cllr Micky Murray
Chair, Alliance LGBTQ+