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18 April 2024   |    News

Response to decision to pause referrals to Paediatric Endocrinology from Sandyford Young People’s Gender Service 18.4.24

Today, the Sandyford Young People’s Gender Service, based at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, has announced that they will no longer be referring under 18s for endocrine treatments.

10 April 2024   |   News

Our initial response to the publication of the Cass Review 10.4.24

You may have seen that Dr. Hilary Cass has now published the final report of her review of NHS gender identity services for children and young people in England.

We’re still reading and digesting the report, but wanted to share some initial thoughts.

8 December 2023   |   News

Court rules in favour of UK Government on Section 35 challenge

We are very disappointed that the Scottish Government has lost its court case against the UK Government’s use of a Section 35 order to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from reaching royal assent.

16 November 2023   |   News

Scottish Government publishes Non-Binary Equality Action Plan

LGBTI organisations welcome Scottish Government plans to improve the lives of non-binary people

18 September 2023   |   News

Gender Recognition Reform Block Court Hearing Starts Tomorrow

At 10am tomorrow (Tuesday 19th September) the Scottish Government’s case for judicial review against the UK Government’s use of a Section 35 order to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will begin.

9 August 2023   |   News

Scottish Trans joins legal challenge to UK Government’s veto of Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

The charity says that the Secretary of State’s block of an improved gender recognition process achieves nothing other than to “force trans men and women to continue to have to use an intrusive, difficult and expensive process simply to live their lives with the dignity we all deserve.”

10 July 2023   |   News

Happy Non-Binary Awareness Week 2023!

This week is Non-binary awareness week, an international celebration of all people who don’t fully identify as women or men. To mark this week, we’ve put together 3 key things to know that you can share with family, friends, and colleagues.

30 June 2023   |   News

Scottish Government granted permission in their case about the UK Government’s block of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

The Scottish Government have been granted permission to take the UK Government’s decision to use section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill to Judicial Review.

12 April 2023   |   News

Scottish Government announce legal challenge against Section 35 block

We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to challenge the UK Government’s veto of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

6 April 2023   |   News

Response to letters between EHRC and Kemi Badenoch on defining sex as “biological sex” in the Equality Act 2010

We will undoubtedly say more over the coming weeks and months, particularly if the UK Government decides to pursue this course of action. For now, these are just proposals – they would have to go through consultation, and the UK Parliament, to actually become changes to the law. But these are some initial thoughts on the suggestion that “sex” in the Equality Act should be defined as “biological sex”.

27 February 2023   |   News

National LGBT+ organisations call on the FM candidates to continue with commitments to LGBT+ equality

National LGBT+ organisations in Scotland have written today to each of the candidates standing to be next First Minister, to ask that they commit to honouring existing Scottish Government commitments to improve LGBT+ people’s lives, and to continue progressing LGBT+ equality.

16 February 2023   |   News

Sandyford Young Persons Gender Service continuing to accept new patients

We have received confirmation that the Sandyford Young Persons Gender Service will continue to see new patients and accept referrals to their waiting list.

27 January 2023   |   News

Scottish Trans statement on Isla Bryson case 27.01.23

17 January 2023   |   News

Statement on the UK Government’s blocking of the GRR Bill

We are bitterly disappointed at the UK Government’s decision to block the GRR Bill using Section 35 of the Scotland Act

21 December 2022   |   News

Final vote on Gender Recognition Reform Bill due today – here’s what to expect

Today, we hope that MSPs will vote on whether the Gender Recognition Reform Bill should become law.

19 December 2022   |   News

The final stage of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill begins tomorrow – here’s what to expect

Stage Three of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill starts tomorrow (Tuesday 20th December) with a debate and vote on amendments suggested by MSPs to the Bill.

7 December 2022   |   News

Stage Three of Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill announced for Tuesday December 20th

Stage Three of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will be starting on Tuesday December 20th, with the final vote on Wednesday December 21st.

23 November 2022   |   News

Final amendments on Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at Stage Two

Following on from last week’s session (https://www.scottishtrans.org/first-amendments-passed-on-grr-at-stage-two/) the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee met yesterday to debate and vote on the remaining proposed amendments to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

16 November 2022   |   News

First Amendments Passed on GRR at Stage Two

Yesterday in a mammoth committee session, the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee debated and voted on many of the 150+ amendments proposed by MSPs at Stage Two of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

26 October 2022   |   News

Stage One Gender Recognition Reform Event Tomorrow

Tomorrow (Thursday 27th) we will be hosting an event outside Scottish Parliament at 12:30pm to show MSPs that there is public support for the Gender Recognition Reform Bill from a wide range of people, and to encourage them to vote for the Bill.

6 October 2022   |   News

Trans equality organisation welcomes recommendations from Scottish Parliament Committee to reform the Gender Recognition Act

Scottish Trans, the trans equality project of LGBTI equality and human rights charity the Equality Network, has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee’s publication today of the Stage One report on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

7 September 2022   |   News

Response to VICE World News Story that UK Prime Minister Liz Truss wants to ‘pause or prevent’ Scottish Gender Recognition Act reform

We respond to the VICE World News Story that the new UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has sought legal advice to try and ‘pause or prevent’ reform of the Gender Recognition Act in Scotland.

13 July 2022   |   News

Scottish Government responds to thirty-five recommendations from Working Group on Non-Binary Equality

Today, July 13th 2022, the Scottish Government has published its response to thirty-five recommendations from the Working Group on Non-binary Equality, as well as a report from the group explaining its recommendations.

31 March 2022   |   News

Trasgender Day of Visibility 2022

“We take today to recognise the beauty and strength of our community, our creativity and bravery in the face of adversity. But we know that transphobia will not go away overnight, and that we as trans people and allies have to support each other and work together to get to the better world we know is coming.”

3 March 2022   |   News

Equality organisations welcome Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill

National LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) organisations in Scotland have welcomed the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, published today.

17 February 2022   |   News

Trans equality charity welcome Court of Session decision on transgender rights

Court upholds Census guidance allowing trans men and women to self-identify their lived sex

25 January 2022   |   News

Scottish Trans joins legal challenge to protect trans people’s equal participation in the next Scottish Census

Equality charity says that attempt to overturn well established guidance for trans men and trans women answering the Census is ‘misguided’ and will send a message that ‘they aren’t counted equally in Scotland’.

20 December 2021   |   News

Scottish Government publishes National Action Framework to transform Gender Identity Services

Today, the Scottish Government has published their three year strategic action framework for transforming gender identity services.

13 September 2021   |   News

An update and message from our Policy Officer Becky

“I hope this finds you all well. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been in touch. Sorry for that. Life has been very hectic for me since we came down to South Africa to care for Karen’s mum…

2 September 2021   |   News

Scottish Government publishes Gender Recognition Bill consultation analysis

Today, the Scottish Government has published its analysis of responses to the consultation on the draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which ran from October 2019 – March 2020.

12 August 2021   |   News

Scottish Government publishes “Supporting Transgender Pupils in Schools” Guidance

Today, Scottish Trans and LGBT Youth Scotland welcome the news that the Scottish Government have launched an updated resource for supporting transgender pupils in schools.

19 July 2021   |   News

Template letter to get the name on your EU Settled Status changed

In March of this year, we were pleased to help an EU Citizen get their EU Settlement Scheme Settled Status updated to reflect their current name. Initially, the Home Office had insisted on using the person’s old name, as shown on their passport from their country of origin. We know that other people may be in the same situation. So we wanted to share a letter that you can send to the Home Office, to get them to change your Settled Status if it’s been issued using the name on your passport, so that it matches your identity.

8 July 2021   |   News

UK Supreme Court Case on Gender X Passports

On Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th July, the UK Supreme Court will be hearing the case of “R (on the application of Elan-Cane) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent)”. It will decide whether or not the UK Government policy of requiring all people who apply for a UK passport to declare themselves ‘male’ or ‘female’, and to be recorded this way on their passport, is discriminatory.

18 May 2021   |   News

Update about phalloplasty and metoidioplasty at St Peter’s Andrology

We know that some of you may be aware that St Peter’s Andrology Centre, the team that provides phalloplasty and metoidioplasty surgery (masculinising genital surgery), reached the end of their contract recently. This means that at the minute, there is no surgical provider across the UK for these procedures. Find out more about what’s going on and support you can access in the meantime if you are worried.

19 April 2021   |   News

Information about covid vaccines

We’ve been hearing that some trans people are having problems registering for a covid vaccine, or are concerned that they have not been invited for their vaccines when they should have been. This is not happening to all trans people, and many have registered or received their invitations as normal. Read on to find more details, and let us know what’s been going on for you

23 March 2021   |   News

Trans equality charity welcome Court of Session Decision on transgender rights

Court rules that Scottish Government acted lawfully in including trans women in an equal opportunities measure to improve women’s representation on public boards

22 March 2021   |   News

Have you registered to vote?

The deadline to register for a postal vote is Tuesday 6th April.

The deadline to register to vote in person is Monday 19th April.

Sometimes, trans people can face delays in registering to vote. Apply as soon as you can to make sure you’re registered before the deadline!

19 March 2021   |   News

Success for trans EU citizen getting settled status

We’re delighted to share that the Scottish Just Law Centre, which we are a partner organisation in with Just Right Scotland, has successfully challenged the Home Office on their requirement that a trans EU citizen had to have their settled status issued using their old name as shown on their passport from their country of origin.

8 March 2021   |   News

International Women’s Day 2021 #ChooseToChallenge

This International Women’s Day, three members of the Equality Network and Scottish Trans team reflect on what they #ChooseToChallenge in the fight for gender equality

11 December 2020   |   News

Scottish Trans joins legal challenge to protect gender equality on public authority boards

The Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 guarantees women 50% of places on public boards, but a group called ‘For Women Scotland’ wants it to be scrapped, because they object to it allowing trans women to be included. Scottish Trans has been granted permission to intervene. The hearing is on 7 January 2021.

26 October 2020   |   News

Announcing new Scottish Trans Manager

James Morton has stepped down as Scottish Trans Manager, in order to take on a new career opportunity.
We have appointed Vic Valentine as the new Scottish Trans Manager, starting from today.

22 September 2020   |   News

Our response to the UK Government’s announcement on the Gender Recognition Act

Today’s announcement by the UK Government that they intend to make only tiny improvements to the Gender Recognition Act in England and Wales is disappointing but not surprising.

16 June 2020   |   News

Letter to The Sun from trans activists

Misogyny is a pervasive force and one that treats survivors and victims of sexual and domestic violence as bylines to their abusers story. We stand alongside JK Rowling in this cruel and malicious reporting, which sends a dangerous message to all survivors that their stories are only valid when corroborated by their abusers.

14 June 2020   |   News

Scottish Trans response to today’s Sunday Times front page

The Sunday Times has reported that an unnamed UK Government source has leaked to them a draft of what the UK Government Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, apparently proposes to do to try to undermine trans equality.

24 April 2020   |   News

Response to UK Government Minister for Women and Equalities’ speech on trans rights

On Wednesday 22nd April, the UK Government Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, made concerning remarks about trans people’s rights to the UK Parliament Women and Equalities Select Committee. The Minister’s statements, if implemented as UK Government policy, could represent a reduction of trans people’s rights thinly disguised as progress.

1 April 2020   |   News

Scottish Government announcement that the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill is on hold due to the coronavirus crisis

We understand that dealing with the current outbreak of COVID-19 must be the Scottish Government’s top priority. That is why we support today’s announcement that they will deprioritise any new primary or secondary legislation not intended to deal with this public health crisis until it is over. At least six bills are now currently on hold, and these include the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

27 March 2020   |   News

Important information about continuing your hormones during the coronavirus outbreak

We have been assured that there is no reason to expect that your prescriptions for hormones during the coronavirus outbreak will not continue from your GP as normal.

22 November 2019   |   News

Brexit’s Dangerous Impact on Transgender Asylum Seekers

Elise Middleton is a content writer for the Immigration Advice Service, an organisation of UK immigration solicitors offering legal aid and support to asylum-seekers, trafficking survivors and survivors of domestic abuse.

25 April 2019   |   News

Being Trans 2019

On Tuesday 23 April, Scottish Trans, Stonewall Scotland, Equality Network, Amnesty Scotland and LGBT Youth Scotland brought trans people and MSPs from across the political spectrum together at the Scottish Parliament.

25 May 2018   |   News

An important new piece of research on trans healthcare in Scotland!

The Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN) conducted a health care needs assessment about trans people and their access to specialist Gender Identity Services in Scotland that was published in May 2018.

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