Staffs students influence national policy on gender recognition
Join our LGBT+ Network
Your Students' Union has worked closely with our LGBT+ student network and Staffordshire University staff to respond to Government consultation on reforms around gender recognition policy.
What was the situation?
If you were an individual who wanted their gender to be recognised formally - for example on a job application or marriage certificate you wouldn't be able to legally recognised without going through a very difficult and expensive process.
What we said
As part of the Government's wider consultation on the topic, we said that the barriers to being legally recognised as your gender need to be removed to make it a less distressing process for people, and in particular any of our students, who wish to be legally recognised as who they are.
What has changed
The Government has released their statement:
"As a Government, we are determined that everyone in the UK should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, gender identity, race or disability."
"[...] it is also clear that we need to improve the process and experience that transgender people have when applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate – making it kinder and more straightforward. Our changes will address the main concerns that trans people themselves tell us they have about it."
As a result of the consultation, which Elected Officer Tuesday Forrest, the LGBT+ Network and the University's Equality & Diversity teams contributed to, the process will now be moved online instead of just paper based which makes this more accessible; the cost to change these details has been reduced, and the government will be looking into providing better healthcare for trans people in the UK.
If you would like to get involved in any of our Representative Networks, including the LGBT+ Network, sign up and get involved here.
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