The Scottish Parliament has passed controversial reforms making it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, including eliminating the need for a medical diagnosis for gender dysphoria and lowering the minimum age from 18 to 16.
The Gender Recognition Reform Bill (Scotland) passed by 86 votes to 39, making Scotland the first UK region to authorize a gender reassignment self-identification process.
Other countries, including Ireland, Denmark and Argentina, have enacted self-identification laws to make gender reassignment easier and less invasive.
The bill, supported by the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and other parties in Parliament except the Conservatives, was opposed by some women’s rights activists.
Activists argued that the changes could pose a threat to the safety of women and girls by making it easier for predatory men to access same-sex spaces such as toilets.
Scottish Social Justice Minister Shona Robison said the passage of similar legislation in other countries had benefited transgender people and led to a “significant” drop in violence against them.
“I think we can all hope that trans people in Scotland will also be able to benefit from those positive outcomes as the bill removes barriers to the enjoyment of their human rights,” Ms Robison told the devolved Scottish parliament ahead of the vote, reports RTE.
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