Scotland’s LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex) equality groups the Equality Network and Scottish Trans are welcoming the commitments made today by the SNP on LGBTI equality.

Nicola Sturgeon has today made five pledges, three of which relate to the welfare of young LGBTI people. The other two are to reform gender recognition law and to train all police on the investigation of hate crime.

Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network, said, “We welcome these commitments from the SNP, which address some key concerns of LGBTI people, and we hope that the other parties will make strong pledges on LGBTI equality.”

The commitment to reform gender recognition law is the key aim of the Equality Network and Scottish Trans’s Equal Recognition Campaign.

James Morton, manager of Scottish Trans, said, “We are very pleased to see the SNP pledge to reform gender recognition law for all trans people, in line with international best practice. That would mean enabling people to change the gender on their birth certificate without intrusive medical diagnosis, recognising trans people as the experts on their own identities. It would allow young people to legally change their gender, with parents’ support if under 16. It would also mean the law recognising that some people have a non-binary gender, that is, they are neither men nor women. We hope that the other parties will match this commitment and we look forward to working on this with whoever forms the next Scottish Government.”

Nathan Gale, of Non-Binary Scotland, said “By making a commitment to reform gender recognition law the Scottish Government is ensuring that all trans people, no-matter what their gender identity, will be able to be themselves, in all aspects of their lives. Trans people who don’t identify as men or women have just as much right to have the gender they identify as recognised and respected as everyone else. I hope that the next Scottish Government will truly aspire to international best practice and provide for a third gender, alongside male and female, to be recognised in Scottish law.”

The Equality Network and Scottish Trans manifesto for the 2016 election is here:

http://www.equality-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/LGBTI-Equality-Manifesto-2016.pdf

A briefing for the Equal Recognition campaign to reform gender recognition law is here:

http://www.scottishtrans.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Equal-Recognition-Briefing.pdf

For media enquiries, please contact:

 Equality Network: Tim Hopkins, Director, on 07747 108 967 or tim@equality-network.org or James Morton, Manager, Scottish Trans on 07554 992 626 or james@equality-network.org or Non-Binary Scotland on nonbinaryscotland@gmail.com  

Notes for editors

•  The Equality Network is a national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex equality charity for Scotland, campaigning for equality and human rights for all LGBTI people in Scotland. We create ways for people to contribute to making Scotland a place where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics, can live free from prejudice and discrimination. By giving a voice to diverse LGBTI people across the country, using research evidence and expertise, and working in partnership with others, we achieve change in the laws, institutions and society of www.equality-network.org
• Scottish Trans is Scotland’s national transgender equality and human rights project, based within the Equality Network. Scottish Trans was formed by transgender people in 2006 and carries out campaigning and community empowerment work, along with public sector policy and good practice development, research and training to advance transgender equality in www.scottishtrans.org
• Non-Binary Scotland is a community group which provides social opportunities for non-binary people and campaigns for non-binary equality and human rights. They support the Equal Recognition Campaign. Contact: nonbinaryscotland@gmail.com.