On 2 March 2022 the Scottish Government published the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. On introducing the Bill Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison stated: 'This Bill does not introduce any new rights for trans people. It is about simplifying and…
Blog
MBM submission to Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Our submission to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill can be read below. A copy of the submission can also be downloaded here. About us MurrayBlackburnMackenzie (MBM) is a not-for-profit independent…
The potential for GRA reform to affect who can access single sex services: briefing for MSPs
The note below was sent yesterday to all MSPs on behalf of a number of women's groups, following the first public session of Stage 1 of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday 17 May. It sets out why…
MBM submission on Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Our written evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee can be found here. Our submission highlights that: The equality impact assessment (EqIA) of the draft legislation has barely changed since the EqIA undertaken for the…
Read More MBM submission on Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
How to submit evidence on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Parliament Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice (EHRCJ) Committee is currently inviting written submissions on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. The deadline is Monday 16 May and evidence must be submitted via the Scottish Parliament’s online platform.…
Read More How to submit evidence on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Cross-border effects of GRA reform in Scotland: unanswered questions
We have written previously about the potential cross border effects of the Scottish Government’s proposals to introduce a self-declaration model of legal sex change. In 2003, the then Scottish Executive – a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition – considered whether to legislate…
Read More Cross-border effects of GRA reform in Scotland: unanswered questions
MBM April 2022 newsletter
Our newsletter for April 2022 is available here.
The SPS review on trans prisoners: a chance to get policy-making in Scottish prisons back on track
This blog uses material from recently received FoI responses, supplemented by other published and unpublished sources, to consider how the current Scottish Prison Service (SPS) review of its Gender Identity and Gender Reassignment Policy offers a chance to get policy…
MBM response to EHRC guidance for providers of separate and single-sex services
We welcome the new EHRC guidance for providers of separate and single-sex services. The guidance helpfully provides more detailed discussion of the issues, compared to previous EHRC guidance, and more examples of cases where services or activity are legitimately single…
Read More MBM response to EHRC guidance for providers of separate and single-sex services
Update: Petition on accurately recording the sex of people charged or convicted of rape or attempted rape
Today the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee considered our petition for a second time. We are pleased that the Committee has decided to keep the petition open and welcome the next steps agreed by members. These include seeking further…