Easy 183 recently posted a request, it seemed, that all men should be men and that all women should be women.
A simple, child-like idea of life.
Some users might be interested to know that the Scottish Government has tabled a "Gender Recognition Reform Bill" to the Scottish Parliament.
This is intended to make it more possible for people to legally change their recognized gender.
There is intense debate, which should be always be conducted civilly.
I intend to follow the debate, and I am also interested to know if anyone here can help me to understand these hugely personal and complex issues.
If anyone messages me I promise to be totally respectful in my attempt that we understand each other better.;
Peter

It's already possible to change your legal gender (assigned on your birth certificate) but it is a nightmare. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_Recognition_Act_2004

How this reform changes it I have not looked into...yet.

On a side note, ff you want a good story of a transwoman's journey, I recommend "Just one letter" by Kirstie McEwan;

(https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-One-Letter-Kirstie-McEwan/dp/1470966239/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1C8I9WGFNSXN7&keywords=%22Just+one+letter%22&qid=1647019547&sprefix=just+one+letter+%2Caps%2C51&sr=8-2

Chipping in here as a trans woman.

There's a few terms which might be useful to understand, the first is that gender and sexuality are different. Gender is how we identify (I'm a woman, or I'm a man) whereas sexuality is who we then are attracted to.

Gender and sex, a topic brought up a lot in these "debates", are also different. Gender is a social construct, it only exists because we've imposed it and, in fact, a lot of cultures don't subscribe to the idea of gender being binary. Western culture and colonialism was what ended up forcing men and women upon a lot of the world, for example Native Hawaiian people have a "third gender".

Sex is our biological makeup, however that in turn is a confusing topic and not strictly binary. You can "measure" sex based on different factors, such as having or lack of a penis or vagina, karyotypic or genotypic chromosomes, hormonal levels etc.

As it turns out, when you start delving into sex and all the variables the proportion of intersex people is actually higher than first assumed.

Someone who is transgender (note its use as an adjective, not a noun) is someone who was assigned one gender at birth but feels they are a different gender. This could be alongside feelings of dysphoria which is the unease and distress caused by gender incongruence.

With specific mention to the current bills and laws that various people are fighting for or against, it's important to note that the UK government is institutionally transphobic. The UK Equality and Human Rights Commission has actively fought against the inclusion of transgender people and there is evidence to suggest they have liaised with exclusionary groups about the introduction of bathroom bills similar to that in the US.

The various Gender Reform Bills that are being passed (or not...) by parts of the UK are essentially aimed at making transition in the UK easier.

Current UK Gender Identity Clinic waiting lists are in the region of five years, there was a recent court case which tried to stop the use of puberty blockers (note, blockers and not "cross sex hormones") for teenagers, it is necessary to have a "psychiatric evaluation" for gender dysphoria in order to access treatment, you cannot self declare gender on documents, non-binary individuals are not recognised legally etc.

Gender Recognition Certificates which a lot of these bills then focus on are what allows me to change my passport from male to female however in order to obtain one I need to pay to submit documents to a gender recognition panel where a group of "experts" will attempt to decide whether I'm telling the truth or if I'm going through years of humiliating and degrading processes for a laugh.

Unfortunately these reforms offer little in the way of actual benefits, England's for example was pretty much just making the process online (yeah, 21st century...).


And this is starting to become a rant, sorry!

Thanks for these replies.
I do appreciate your time and thoughts.
I've been reading some reviews of, "Just One Letter" and I'll need to read the book.
Thanks.
And thanks, Messy.Charlotte, for your considered and detailed reply.
You have set me thinking about many of life's experiences and I hope to become a better person for it.
Thanks, Peter

Thanks for starting the thread Peter discussion this online without attacking one another is never easy but your approach is appreciated

Thanks, if we start with respect for each other, that is a good start.

Months on, and an age seems to have passed in Scottish politics.
The Gender Recognition Reform Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament.
The UK Parliament then blocked it, using their power of veto for the first time in twenty-odd years.
The SNP first presented this as an attack on Scottish sovereignty, but this line seems to have become more muted as polls suggest that the vast majority of Scots doubt the Bill too.
My starting point is an earnest desire to seek equality.
I struggle with two points; at age 16 a young person at a point to change their gender?
I was struggling to recognise my own identity and orientation at that age.
And secondly, this decision should be made without medical input?
I am acutely aware of the sensitivity of this discussion.
I despise the input from the gutter which has recently framed much of the discussion.
The First Minister of Scotland has resigned. May be no connection.
But can any honest people here help me?
Thanks, Peter