Why we need to reform the UK’s Gender Recognition Act

Stand with us — This week, the government is asking the public to share their thoughts on vital new rights for trans, non-binary and intersex people. This could be a huge step forward – but only if our allies speak out.

The Gender Recognition Act 2004 allows transgender people to be legally recognised by the state as their ‘preferred’ gender. It was ground-breaking legislation for trans people when it was first introduced, but now it is no longer fit for purpose.

The GRA currently requires that transgender people sit through months of extensive and intrusive interviews with psychiatrists, undergo invasive medical checks, receive a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and ‘prove’ that we have been living as our ‘preferred’ gender for two years, before a panel of strangers decides if we are who we say we are. There is a campaign underway to change this to a process that allows transgender people to self-certify and, in response, the UK government launched a public consultation to determine how the Act should be reformed.

A system of self-certification, as they currently have in the Republic of Ireland, is exactly what it sounds like. A trans person says they are male/female/non-binary and we trust that they know themselves better than any “expert.” At present, non-binary people have no legal recognition at all under the current GRA.

I am a transgender man. When I realised I was attracted to women when I was a teenager, I didn’t have to seek anyone’s permission to come out as a lesbian. I didn’t need a medical diagnosis, nor did I need to demonstrate that I had been living as a lesbian for two years before I was granted the full gamut of lesbian privileges. No doctors wanted to see my genitals. I didn’t have to tell psychiatrists about every sexual partner, fantasy or what I masturbated to. I realised I was a lesbian, so I told people and that was enough. When it comes to my gender, however, I had to do all those things and more.

Scare stories abound about what this will mean in terms of men trying to access women-only spaces, but the reality is this act only harms trans people. It treats us like medical freaks and reinforces society’s view that there is something ‘wrong’ with us.

A move to a system of self-certification would not only demonstrate that society trusts trans people to know what is in our own best interests, but it would also send a message that we do not need other people’s approval to be who we truly are.

Recognise Me, a new campaign from Vice and Stonewall, is calling on the UK Government to make these changes to the Gender Recognition ActYou have until 11 pm on Friday (October 19th) to speak up for trans rights and reform it.

Follow Lee Hurley on Twitter.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

 


Latest on Huck

Smiling person in black wetsuit riding surfboard on calm ocean with rocky hills in background.
Sport

Maryam El Gardoum is breaking new shores for Morocco’s indigenous surfers

The Amazigh Atlantic — Through her groundbreaking career and popular surf school, the five-time Moroccan champion is helping women find their places in the waves.

Written by: Sam Haddad

Dimly lit underground carpark, long winding corridor with concrete walls, floor, and pipes above.
Activism

Youth violence’s rise is deeply concerning, but mass hysteria doesn’t help

Safe — On Knife Crime Awareness Week, writer, podcaster and youth worker Ciaran Thapar reflects on the presence of violent content online, growing awareness about the need for action, and the two decades since Saul Dibb’s Bullet Boy.

Written by: Ciaran Thapar

Colourful embroidered jackets worn by two people, with skateboarder visible in background. Bright colours and graphic designs on the clothing.
Sport

Volcom teams up with Bob Mollema for the latest in its Featured Artist Series

True to This — The boardsports lifestyle brand will host an art show in Biarritz to celebrate the Dutch illustrators’ second capsule collection.

Written by: Huck

Black and white image showing a group of shirtless men socialising, some laughing.
Culture

A visual trip through 100 years of New York’s LGBTQ+ spaces

Queer Happened Here — A new book from historian and writer Marc Zinaman maps scores of Manhattan’s queer venues and informal meeting places, documenting the city’s long LGBTQ+ history in the process.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Four persons - three women and one man - posing outdoors. The women are wearing elaborate clothing and jewellery.
Culture

Nostalgic photos of everyday life in ’70s San Francisco

A Fearless Eye — Having moved to the Bay Area in 1969, Barbara Ramos spent days wandering its streets, photographing its landscape and characters. In the process she captured a city in flux, as its burgeoning countercultural youth movement crossed with longtime residents.

Written by: Miss Rosen

A person wearing a black cap and holding a sign that says "What made me"
Music

Tony Njoku: ‘I wanted to see Black artists living my dream’

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s avant-garde electronic and classical music hybridist Tony Njoku.

Written by: Tony Njoku

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.