We are LGBT+ groups, and organisations from all over Scotland in all our diversity.
This week, the Scottish Parliament has a historic opportunity to continue Scotland’s journey towards full social and legal equality, for all LGBT+ people, by passing a new law which will remove bureaucratic and dehumanising barriers to legal gender recognition for trans men and women.
Collectively we work to make Scotland a better place. As an LGBT+ community we have seen the repeal of Section 28, protection from discrimination, and equal marriage as some of the key steps forward in a country that respects all who live here, no matter who they love or who they are. In this journey we have learned that we are stronger when we are united.
And on this issue we are united.
Passing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill would be an important next step on our journey to making Scotland a place in which everyone can thrive.
We call on MSPs to reject amendments that would undermine the core principles of the bill. The core principles are:
- That gender recognition should be based on a statutory declaration that the person is living in their transitioned gender and intends to do so permanently
- That the minimum age should be 16, with support and advice signposted and available for 16 and 17 year olds
- That the effects of obtaining gender recognition should remain unchanged from those in place since 2005
We, the signatories of this letter, stand resolutely in support of trans equality and human rights. Today we reaffirm our support for the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill and ask all Members of the Scottish Parliament to vote in favour of the bill on 21st December.
Signed:
Arran Pride
Auld Reekie Roller Derby
Ayrshire LGBTQ
Caledonian Thebans RFC
Colinton Squashers and Padelers
Connexons LGBT Fife
Dumfries & Galloway LGBT Plus
Dundee Frontrunners
Dundee Pride
Dundee Roller Derby
Edinburgh University Staff Pride Network
End Conversion Therapy Scotland
Equality Network
Football v Homophobia Scotland
Four Pillars
Glasgow Frontrunners
Glasgow University LGBTQ+
Glasgow’s Pride Mardi Gla
Grampian Pride
Hebridean Pride
Hidayah LGBT+
Highland Pride
HIV Scotland
HotScots FC
Lavender Menace CIC
LEAP Sports Scotland
LGBT Health and Wellbeing
LGBT Youth Scotland
LGBT+ Labour Scotland
LGBT+ Lib Dems
LGBTQ+ Staff Network at the University of Glasgow
Oban Pride
OurStory Scotland
Out for Independence
Outspoken Arts
Perth Parrots Floorball Club
Pink Saltire
Porty Pride
Pride Edinburgh
Pride Glasgow
Pride in Moray
Pride Outside
Proud Doonhamers
Public Health Scotland LGBT+ Staff Network
Queer Yoga Edinburgh
Rainbow Greens
Rainbow Heartlands
Saints LGBT+
Saltire Thistle FC
Save Pride Bridge
Scottish Bi+ Network
Scottish Borders LGBT Equality
Scottish Trans
Shetland LGBT
Sisters Scotland
Somewhere
SQIFF
Stonewall Scotland
STUC LGBT+ Workers’ Committee
SWAN
SX Scotland
Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland
The Hive LGBT Centre
Time For Inclusive Education
Trans Pride Scotland
UNISON Scotland LGBT+ Committee
Waverley Care
West Lothian Pride