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Gender Self-identification
19 May 2025
Lead MP
Roz Savage
South Cotswolds
LD
Responding Minister
Seema Malhotra
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementNHSDefence
Word Count: 20221
Other Contributors: 27
At a Glance
Roz Savage raised concerns about gender self-identification in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The petition requests a clear timetable for allowing transgender people to self-identify their legal gender so that they can live with dignity and respect. It calls for reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to make it less bureaucratic, intrusive, and end conversion practices.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The petition calls for trans people to be able to self-identify their legal gender without needing an intrusive medical diagnosis. It highlights that the current system makes life harder for many, leading to delays in accessing legal rights and necessary healthcare. The debate also addresses the rise of hate crimes against the transgender community, with only 126 out of nearly 5,000 reported transphobic hate crimes leading to prosecution in 2023.
Alex Sobel
Lab/Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Asked if it is time to move with other jurisdictions by implementing self-declaration of legal gender without detrimental effects.
Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Thanks the petitioners for bringing forward the motion and acknowledges the concerns raised by other MPs.
East Dunbartonshire
Clarified that her remarks include all members of the LGBT community and reiterated opposition to pitting different vulnerable groups against each other. Questioned why Government data on sex and gender is needed and raised concerns about potential privacy breaches.
Meg Hillier
Lab/Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Highlighted the distress caused by the Supreme Court ruling to a constituent working in the ambulance service. She agreed that the legal ruling creates a real mess that needs sorting out. Recalls a travel warning issued under Trump to trans individuals and calls for urgent action in light of current concerns about toilet access for transgender people.
Southend West and Leigh
Asked if the hon. Lady agreed that equality means equality for all under the Equality Act, despite the current system's inadequacies.
Arthur Janov
Con
Romford
Asked for a detailed timeline regarding when the updated code will come to Parliament.
Eilidh Whiteford
SNP
Banff and Buchan
Discussed the importance of ensuring all trans people receive high-quality care through NHS services and referenced Dr Levy's review of adult gender services in NHS England.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Arthur agrees that a threat to fund Edinburgh Women’s Aid due to its single-sex services is an absolute disgrace, expressing shame about such discussions taking place in Edinburgh. The hon. Member for Edinburgh South West highlights the importance of being an ally to the LGBT community and discusses two sets of parents with opposing views on trans rights, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue.
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
Does my hon. Friend agree that we need to do more to protect trans people? In Somerset, for example, trans hate crimes have increased from 119 to 179.
Jacob Collier
Lab
Burton and Uttoxeter
Emphasised the importance of trans voices being heard in debates about their rights and the need to listen to the trans community when making decisions that impact them directly.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Raises concerns about parents' fears and their children's wellbeing in the wake of Supreme Court judgments affecting transgender individuals' legal status.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
According to the Rainbow Map, the UK has dropped to 22nd place from being at the top a decade ago. Trans people face hostility and marginalisation.
Kirsteen Sullivan
Lab/Co-op
Bathgate and Linlithgow
Highlights the toxic nature of recent debates on women’s sex-based rights and trans rights, advocating for respectful dialogue to improve protections for both groups. Sought to give way but was declined by the speaker who wished to make progress due to time constraints.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
North East Fife
Explained the purpose of a gender recognition certificate, highlighting its role in updating birth or adoption certificates, marriage agreements, and death certificates. Asked how a passport’s gender marker is relevant to biological sex when it cannot be changed, questioning the necessity of such markers. Asked for an update on the timeline and scrutiny process for publishing draft legislation on a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Asked Dr Savage if she agrees that now is the time for the Government to commit to a clear timetable for allowing transgender people to self-identify their legal gender, so they can live with dignity and respect.
Luke Myer
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Expresses concern about the UK being the only western European country rated amber for LGBT rights, urging government action.
Richard Quigley
Lab
Isle of Wight West
Critiqued recent rhetoric that divides rather than unites, highlighting concerns about protecting women's rights while addressing the urgent needs and challenges faced by trans individuals.
Polly Billington
Lab
East Thanet
Discussed the extreme distress caused by interim guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, causing more stress and anxiety for already vulnerable people in the trans community.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Dunfermline and West Fife
Noted the UK's decline in LGBT rights rankings and urged respect for trans people’s dignity and autonomy, highlighting fears among constituents who feel their lives are unliveable due to current policies. Asked if six weeks is a suitable consultation period, suggesting 12 weeks would be more appropriate.
South Cambridgeshire
Called for a move to a more streamlined, de-medicalised process for legal gender recognition and shared the story of Yannifer, who faces an extensive wait for medical diagnosis despite having changed her gender in official documents.
Seema Malhotra
Lab
Feltham and Heston
Explained the current six-week consultation period and assured that diverse voices will be included in the process. Acknowledged that there is limited information available to share regarding the timeline of the proposed legislative measures against conversion practices, emphasising it as a priority for the Minister for Equalities.
Siân Berry
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Highlighted Brighton Pavilion's high number of petition signatories, supported self-declaration for transgender individuals, and called on the Government to reconsider gender recognition reform.
Tim Roca
Lab
Macclesfield
Supported the rights and dignity of transgender people in the UK, noting a significant increase in transphobic hate crimes according to Home Office data.
Tracy Gilbert
Lab
Edinburgh North and Leith
Gilbert discusses increasing waiting times for gender identity clinic appointments in Scotland, rising from 5,273 people in June with 45 waiting longer than five years to 5,640 by March with 184 waiting more than five years. She also highlights the rise in transgender identity-aggravated crime charges and issues surrounding self-ID. Expressed concerns about politicians misrepresenting trans people and emphasized the importance of protecting all protected groups under the Equality Act 2010. Asked if services should be based on self-identification rather than sex or gender. Asked whether Christine Jardine includes women, lesbians, and gay men among the vulnerable groups she mentioned.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Highlights long wait times for gender identity clinic treatments, questioning the accuracy of NHS statistics on waiting lists.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Suggested that the Government should legislate further to protect trans people following the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act 2010. The UK Supreme Court judgment in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v. The Scottish Ministers has created a legal distinction between biological sex and legal gender, which has obviously created confusion and uncertainty.
Will Stone
Lab
Swindon North
Stressed that what we say in this House matters and ripples across communities. He agreed that the trans community should have the same rights as everyone else, including living in dignity.
Government Response
Seema Malhotra
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Government Response
Acknowledged the debate's respectful nature, thanked the hon. Member for South Cotswolds for her opening speech, and noted that while she is speaking on behalf of another Minister who could not attend due to travel, the issues will be discussed further in Parliament. Confirmed that the consultation period is six weeks, noted ongoing work by EHRC to update statutory code of practice, and assured that the final draft will be laid in Parliament for scrutiny. Emphasised the Government’s commitment to strengthening hate crime protections, improving healthcare for trans people, and delivering a full ban on conversion practices. Acknowledged ongoing discussions with trans organisations and highlighted NHS England's in-depth review of adult gender services led by Dr David Levy.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.