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Commenting on the government’s announcement today (Tuesday) on its response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

Commenting on the government’s announcement today (Tuesday) on its response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: 

“Since launching a consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act over two years ago, the government has failed to deliver on trans rights or to address rising hate crime. Anti-trans bullying and harassment have increased, and access to healthcare and wider services has worsened.   

“This response is too little too late. It commits the government to reductions in bureaucracy and cost which will deliver small improvements to current processes for gender recognition. 

“But more must be done to review and simplify the lengthy and humiliating process of acquiring a gender recognition certificate. The government’s own analysis shows trans people find the current process dehumanising and stressful. Today’s announcement does little to address this. 

“Ministers must step up now and support the rights of trans and non-binary people at work – and in wider society.” 

Editors note

- Anyone wishing to change the sex on their birth certificate must currently apply to a panel for a gender recognition certificate. They also have to produce two reports confirming that they suffer from gender dysphoria. 
- In 2018, at the TUC Congress, policy was agreed and called on the government to introduce a simplified, free, statutory gender-recognition process based on self-declaration. The TUC’s statement on reforms to the Gender Recognition Act is here: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/statement-reforms-gender-recognition-act-20…;
- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

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