It says you must be at least 18 years old to receive a GRC(Gender Recognition Certificate)[From the The Gender Recognition Act 2015].
From when a child starts to speak the report recommends you should be able to change your name, pronoun, gender identity, dress how you like or discuss any of the above all without the need for consent of parents. There's also a reminder in there about the 2009 act that it could be considered transphobic and hateful not to respect a child's choices.
Before puberty its recommended that children should be able to self-refer to the Young People's Gender Service clinic in Glasgow where they could be diagnosed with gender dysphoria and receive "a variety of different medical interventions."
I hope this new guidance isn't taken up by the government and they do seem to be getting a bit of a backlash to it. In this age of fickleness and low-attention span people are easily duped into many things. Imagine making a life changing decision... and being wrong.
I guess secretary Anne is arguing the reverse, what if you could have made the right life changing decision and instead have to live your life as the wrong gender. How successful has it been so far? Are transgender people happier after transitioning? Is there waves of people like Keira Bell that completely regret the decision? How do you balance these things out? What is the litmus test for those that really are transgender? You know it when you see it?
We hear about gender fluidity a lot lately too and to me it just seems to be in vogue to want to change and be edgy and this could lead to a lot of people making wrong choices, especially impressionable children.
Here are the relevent parts and the link the the source where I read them.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/suppo ... s/pages/6/The Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009
This Act creates a statutory aggravation for crimes where at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender evinces (demonstrates) malice and ill-will towards an individual based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability. The statutory aggravations can also apply if it is proved that the offence was motivated by malice and ill-will towards persons who have those characteristics. This Act, in combination with similar legislation focusing on religion and race, is commonly referred to as Hate Crime legislation[107].
If offences are proven to result from such malice or ill-will, the court must take this into account when determining a sentence. This can lead to a longer custodial sentence, higher fine or a different type of sentence.
The Gender Recognition Act created a process for the legal recognition of an individual's acquired gender, which enables changing the sex recorded on a person's birth certificate.
If an individual is 18 years or older, has lived in a way that affirms their gender identity for at least two years, intends to continue living in the acquired gender, and has been diagnosed as having gender dysphoria, they can apply to receive a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). A GRC enables individuals to change the sex recorded on their UK birth certificate. An individual can receive a GRC without having undergone hormone treatment or surgery
Puberty and medical transition
Transgender young people may recognise and discuss their gender identity at any age. Before puberty, any transition or change is limited to socially changing their name, pronoun and gender expression. These aspects do not need medical or healthcare involvement.
It is important to recognise that not all young people who identify as transgender seek medical assistance to transition, want medical treatment or need it. In Scotland, medical interventions for transgender young people[109] (under 18) take place at the Young People's Gender Service (YPGS), based at Sandyford Services in Glasgow[110]. Referral can be made before puberty, though the main focus of the service is on young people who are in early puberty and onwards.
Transgender young people can be referred to the clinic by:
There is a waiting list, so young people may wait some time before an appointment is offered with the clinic. This can be very difficult for some young people. The school, their families and outside agencies often have to support transgender young people at this time.
- Their GP
Their parents or carers
An outside agency
Self-referring.
Following assessment, if the YPGS diagnoses a young person with 'gender dysphoria', it can offer ongoing support. For some young people this may also involve a variety of different medical interventions.