Scotland set to pass controversial gender recognition reforms

New law removes need for psychiatric diagnosis of gender dysphoria to obtain gender recognition certificate

Long-awaited Scottish government reforms to simplify how an individual can legally change gender are set to be passed by MSPs following two days of fraught, chaotic and sometimes emotional debate.

Six years after it was proposed by first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, following two public consultations and amid an increasingly toxic and polarised political discourse, the new law removes the need for a psychiatric diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and extends the application process to 16 and 17-year-olds for the first time.