A Labour MSP is calling for plans which would allow 16 year olds to legally change their acquired gender to be paused.
Claire Baker’s amendment would see the age stay at 18 until the completion of a review on gender identity services.
The final vote on the Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which has sparked an SNP rebellion, takes place next week. It proposes to lower the age for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate from 18 to 16 and would drop the need for a medical diagnosis of dysphoria.
Opponents such as author J.K Rowling believe the plans could threaten women’s sex-based rights and be exploited by violent men.
Nine SNP MSPs failed to vote for the Bill during a parliamentary debate in October, but it sailed through thanks to Labour support.
However Labour is divided and Baker’s amendment is demanding a rethink on the age limit until the Cass Review publishes its final report.
Cass will make recommendations about the services provided by the NHS to children and young people who are questioning their gender identity.
The Baker amendment also backs 18 until Scottish Ministers have considered the findings of the review and set out any steps they intend to take as a result of the conclusions.
An SNP source said Labour votes were not necessary for the Bill to pass next week, but accepted the optics would look better if Anas Sarwar’s party was supportive.
Labour's education spokesperson Michael Marra is a critic of the Bill, with party colleagues Pauline McNeill, Claire Baker, Foysol Choudhury and finance spokesperson Daniel Johnson also raising questions. Criticism of the plans by UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem has fuelled internal Labour concerns.
In a statement yesterday, Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “Labour is the party of equality and human rights, and we are determined to deliver a bill that both trans people and the wider public can have confidence in.
“Throughout this process the SNP have failed to do this and they have failed to build consensus around this bill. This vacuum in political leadership has allowed the debate to be dominated by division and distrust instead of openness and discussion.
“This legislation requires significant amendment for it to have the public’s confidence. At every stage of the bill, Scottish Labour has worked to try to deliver these changes. We are continuing to do this at Stage 3 with a series of amendments that will address concerns head on while protecting the principles of the bill."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“There is overwhelming support for the principles of the Bill, with over two thirds of the Parliament and members of all five parties voting in favour at Stage 1.
“We will consider any amendments that are tabled ahead of Stage 3 of the Bill.”
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