Thread by @Fact_Fem

Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill #GRRScotland
Stage 3 Debate on Amendments and Final Vote

Skipping Group 4 (info for applicants)!

Group 5: Grounds on which the application is to be granted: medical evidence and time living in the acquired gender.

Rachael Hamilton raises Am. 95:
"confirm that the applicant has discussed [their] intention to obtain a [GRC] with a medical professional and received any mental health support that was considered by that professional to be necessary." Opening for 'Watchful Waiting'? #GRRScotland

RH highlights the lack of definition for "living in the acquired gender".
"Bill applies to a much larger group than original GRA does. The proposed reforms leave the system wide open to abuse from bad actors." #GRRScotland

Some hefty discussions about what a GRC in Scotland means for having a GRC (or not) in other countries, including the rest of the UK.

Maggie Chapman: "We should not be putting this additional medical barrier in the way of transpeople seeking to get legal recognition of their gender identity. The whole point is that they know their own mind. That's the point of self-ID. It's not to be gate-kept."
#GRRScotland

MC goes on to state that they heard of "no evidence or compelling evidence.. or research" to support the 2year (or any) time period waiting for a GRC.

RH interjects with a VERY good question...
"What evidence is there to reduce the time to 3 months?"

#GRRScotland

Seems experience is only evidence when it suits.
MC: "Heard evidence & lived experience from transpeople that actually there is no evidence for any time period & that other countries... are seeking to remove them. So there is no need for these time periods at all." #GRRScotland

Pauline McNeill: Asks about evidence presented by #ReemAlsalem - "there's not a consensus on [self-ID model], is it fair to say that was the *evidence* you were given yesterday?"
MC: That is what she said but it's not what we're talking about right now 😂
#GRRScotland

Daniel Johnson thinks there is a "decoupling" of the medical and the legal process. But that we "shouldn't conflate those two" and doesn't think mental health clinicians are best placed to determine whether people should apply for a GRC... very off intervention🤨
#GRRScotland

Requiring mental health oversight consistently being framed as a "barrier" with constant mention of "international best practice" - a term that doesn't have any standard definition/meaning within public health.
#GRRScotland

SR mentions #ReemAlsalem letter to Bulgaria, which RA stated with hindsight, she wouldn't sign.
PM - Why is the Cab.Sec taking evidence of one UN expert (VMB) and not the other (RA), who stated there is no international consensus on self-ID.
SR mentions letter again #GRRScotland

*If I hear the phrase "international best practice" one more time I think I'll scream!*

Hamilton stresses that the Cab.Sec has chosen an "arbitrary" 3 months time period that "doesn't mean anything" and hasn't given any evidence to support this #GRRScotland

Am. 95 (requiring discussion with mental health professional prior to GRC application): *NOT AGREED*
Yes 35
No 91
Abs 0

Small technical amendments now... moving the word "and" etc. Exiciting stuff, but I don't think a thread is required😂
So we'll move onto Group 7 (of 16) when they resume with more interesting debate...

https://twitter.com/Fact_Fem/status/1605300550509420544