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:

1. 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 
2. That the minimum age should be 16, with support and advice signposted and available for 16 and 17 year olds 
3. 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 21^st 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