THE National understands the long-awaited first stage report on the reform of the Gender Recognition Act is due to be published tomorrow (October 6).
The report will show the findings of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on the proposed Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
After two public consultations on the draft legislation – the first of which occurred more than five years ago – the bill is due to be debated in the Scottish Parliament on October 27.
The report is expected to detail the findings of the consultations, as well as lay out any recommendations or concerns of the committee.
The Scottish Government has previously said that it is committed to reforming the manner in which people can legally change their gender after LGBT+ charities and activists stated the process was too focused on psychological evaluation and medical transition.
The proposed bill seeks to remove the current medical requirements for transgender people to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate and reduce the time they need to live in their acquired gender before applying from two years to three months.
The bill has been subject to opposition from groups who claim it jeopardises the rights of women.
However, the First Minister has repeatedly emphasised that the bill does not threaten any of the existing rights currently in place that seek to protect women.
The bill has so far had cross-party support in Holyrood, with the exception of the Scottish Conservatives.
