MSPs to take part in final vote on gender recognition reforms at Scottish Parliament

A final vote is set to take place on Wednesday on plans to make it easier for people in Scotland to change their legally recognised gender.

MSPs considered amendments to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday at Holyrood in a marathon debate lasting into the night.

The legislation, which is expected to pass on Wednesday, would make it easier for trans people to obtain a gender recognition certificate and remove the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

The debate is set to continue ahead of the final vote on the proposals.

In Tuesday’s debate, an attempt to block a move to lower the age that a person can apply for a gender recognition certificate from 18 to 16 was rejected by MSPs.

An amendment which had sought to prevent the age from being lowered as part of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was rejected by 87 votes to 37 at the Scottish Parliament.

Scotland’s social justice secretary Shona Robison told MSPs that the issue of age had been “one of the most difficult to address” as the legislation has been taken forward at Holyrood.

However, she insisted that young people believe they should be allowed to make their own decisions.

The minister also indicated that lowering the age to 16 for individuals to apply for a gender recognition certificate would be in line with the age in other areas such as entering legally binding contracts and paying National Insurance.

Another amendment, tabled by Conservative MSP Russell Findlay, sought to make it harder for convicted sex offenders being able to apply for a gender recognition certificate (GRC).

The amendment was defeated by 59 votes to 64 with two abstentions.

The Scottish Government has insisted that the Bill will not introduce new rights for trans people, but is about “improving” the way that trans people gain legal recognition.

However, opponents of the legislation have raised concerns about the safety of women and girls.