The Labour Party has pledged to “modernise, simplify and reform” the Gender Recognition Act in a move which will make it easier for transgender people to transition.
Anneliese Dodds, who serves as Labour chair and Shadow Equalities Secretary, accused the Conservatives of stoking the “culture wars” as she unveiled Sir Keir Starmer’s latest plans at the party’s national policy forum in Nottingham.
Writing for The Guardian, Dodds said: “Changing gender is not a decision anyone makes lightly.
“The process is intrusive, outdated and humiliating. So we will modernise, simplify and reform the gender recognition law to a new process.
Anneliese Dodds, chair of the Labour Party arrives at BBC Broadcasting House in London
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“We will remove invasive bureaucracy and simplify the process.”
The Gender Recognition Act was passed by Tony Blair’s Labour Government in 2004.
Despite labelling the legislation as among New Labour’s “crowning achievements”, Dodds claimed reform is needed to accommodate for a “much better understanding of barriers trans people face”.
However, it would seem Dodds remains aware of the controversial nature of the debate.
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People take part in a Trans Pride protest march in Brighton.
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She said: “We need to recognise that sex and gender are different – as the Equality Act does.
“We will make sure that nothing in our modernised gender recognition process would override the single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act.
“Put simply, this means that there will always be places where it is reasonable for biological women only to have access.
“Labour will defend those spaces, providing legal clarity for the providers of single-sex services.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street
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Dodds added: “Responsible politics is not about doing what is easy, it’s about doing what is right … Everyone deserves to be accepted, without exception and treated with respect and dignity in society.”
The Oxford East MP, who briefly served as Starmer’s Shadow Chancellor, warned Rishi Sunak is pinning any hopes of Tory electoral success on “demonising vulnerable LGBT+ people”.
The Prime Minister last month doubled-down on his approach by saying biological sex is “fundamentally important” and vowing to change the law to protect single-sex spaces for women.
Dodds accused Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson of trying to “stoke division”.
Anderson, who hosts GB News show Lee Anderson’s Real World every Friday at 7pm, previously suggested the Conservative Party should focus on a “mix of culture wars and trans debate” to cling on to power.
