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.

Below are more details on the event, which you can also find on the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/841349863545727

If you’re in Edinburgh or able to travel, please come along tomorrow if you can, and bring your family and friends too!

We won’t be on the concrete outside Holyrood as usual, but on the grass to the left of the main entrance, so look for the gazebos, flags, and placards, we shouldn’t be too hard to find!

The event will last for just over an hour, and include speeches from:

• Ellie Gomersall (NUS Scotland)
• Commissioners from the Trans Rights Youth Commission
• Karen Adam MSP (SNP)
• Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP (Labour)
• Maggie Chapman (Greens)
• Vic Valentine (Scottish Trans)

We’re also very excited to reveal that the “secret arty thing” we’ve been teasing will be a live artwork created by local artists @latoy___ and @evay.1 on the theme of recognition. Attendees will be able to contribute to this piece during the event with their own reasons for supporting this important Bill.

If you can’t make it for the opening of the even that’s totally fine, just drop by whenever you can, but please come by for the big photo of the art piece and all attendees at 1:30.

Scottish Parliament is a short 10-15 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverly station where most trains to Edinburgh arrive.

To arrive by train you could travel from:

• Glasgow Queen Street at 11:15
• Dundee at 10:40
• Aberdeen at 9:52
• Inverness at 8:45

Make sure to check any train times again the morning of travel in case of disruptions.

There is level access to the event, but please note that be it will be on grass and that there is a chance that it will be raining or have rained the night before, so wear suitable footwear, bring a coat or a brolly, and please let us know in advance or find a steward on the day if you are in need of assistance.

Toilets (including disabled toilets) are available inside the Scottish Parliament building, but not-disabled toilets are gendered and you must go through a security check in order to enter the building. More information can be found here: https://www.parliament.scot/visit/plan-your-visit and their accessibility guide is here https://www.parliament.scot/visit/plan-your-visit/accessibility-guide.

After the event, a debate will be held in Parliament on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill around 2:30, followed by a vote sometime after 5. If the bill passes, MSPs will be able to amend it before a final vote in a couple months time. However, if the vote fails, it may be years before such a reform is proposed again, which is why it’s so crucial that we show our support to MSPs and encourage them to vote for the Bill.

If you are unable to make it tomorrow, please share the event with friends and family who might be able to attend, and make sure to email your MSPs in support ahead of the vote using our website here: https://www.scottishtrans.org/our-work/gender-recognition-act-reform-2022/email-your-msps/