You may have seen some misleading stories about trans people in the media recently. When one group, whether it's trans, lesbian, gay or bi people, are portrayed as deviants, it prevents progress for everyone. Let’s clarify a few things🧵👇 #ComeOutForTransEquality #TransAllyScot 
1) The only thing the Gender Recognition Act covers is how trans people’s birth certificates are changed, which improves the level of privacy they are entitled to, such as when getting a job or marrying, and how they are recognised after death. That’s all.
2) Then, what are we campaigning for? Currently the process is stressful, dehumanising and can be traumatic for trans people. While it was groundbreaking back in 2004, it’s outdated now.
3) What’s wrong with it? A lot: it’s discriminatory, treats being trans as a medical condition and excludes young and non-binary people. It can also take several years to go through, costs a lot of money and the process is full of red tape and intrusive medical assessments.
4) Trans people have to live in their ‘acquired gender’ for two years – gathering evidence such as pay slips, utility bills, leases and letters from doctors - to try to convince a panel of legal professionals and medical clinicians (who they don’t meet) that they are indeed trans
5) Even for those who want to do the process they may not be able to as it is very expensive. And for those who have fled violent homes, they may not even have the paperwork needed to get started.
6) The whole process can be so traumatic and demeaning that many trans people simply can’t face it. There’s no need for it to be this way. Lots of other countries, including Ireland, have already reformed it.
7) It doesn’t need to be that complicated. Trans people can already change their sex on passports, driver’s licenses and medical records without much complication. The Gender Recognition Reform Bill will allow the same to happen for birth certificates.
8) If the law changes, what will it mean for you? If you’re not trans, it will not affect you. All that will happen is that trans people in Scotland will have a slightly easier life. You will live in a fairer society where people are free to lead the lives they want to live.
9) You could make a lifetime of a difference to trans people in Scotland. It just takes 10 minutes of your time to fill in the Scottish Government’s consultation (and you don't need to be Scottish to do it). Consultation + guide below. Deadline: 17 March bit.ly/RespondToGRASc…
