The inclusion of ‘cross-dressers’ under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill (January 2021)

During the Stage 1 oral evidence sessions on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, the definition of ‘transgender identity’ was discussed. This briefing traces how ‘cross-dressers’ came to be included within the definition of transgender identity in the…

Sex and gender in the Forensic Medical Services Bill

The Stage 3 debate on the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill will take place this Thursday, 10 December. The purpose of the bill is to improve access to healthcare services for victims of rape and sexual…

International evidence and the risks of reframing the sex question in the census

At the time of writing, the three UK census authorities  (National Records of Scotland , Office for National Statistics, and the Northern Ireland Research and Statistics Authority) are planning to provide guidance to accompany the sex question in the next…

Options for securing consensus on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill (September 2020)

This blog may be downloaded as a briefing hereA more detailed briefing note on these proposals can be accessed here It has been hard to miss the reaction to the Scottish Government’s proposal in its hate crime bill to extend…

The limits of precedent and the special case of racial hatred (August 2020)

This blog is available as a briefing here In response to a recent parliamentary question by Labour MSP James Kelly on the proposed stirring up hatred offences in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, and whether these should…

Should ‘Variations in Sex Characteristics’ be included in the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill? (August 2020)

This blog can be downloaded as a briefing paper here The Hate Crime and Public Order Bill provides for ‘Variations in Sex Characteristics’ (VSCs) as a standalone protected characteristic. This represents a change from the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland)…