Trans Issues – Gender Recognition Act 2004

    Gender Recognition Act 2004

In 1996 it was made illegal to discriminate against transsexuals in the workplace; in 1999, gender reassignment surgery was made available on the NHS; and in 2000 in the European Court of Human rights it was established that transsexuals should be be afforded legal status in the sex that they lived in – this was effected in the UK last year, in the form of the Gender Recognition Act, July 2004

The act means that transsexual people can marry in their acquired gender, obtain a birth certificate recognising the acquired gender, and obtain benefits and a state pension just like anyone else of that gender.

To get this legal recognition, transsexual people have to apply to the Gender Recognition Panel and demonstrate that they have ‘gender dysphoria’, that they have lived for at least the last two years in their acquired gender, and that they intend to live in that gender until death.  They must also be backed up by medical reports.

Gender Recognition Panel   The Gender Recognition Panel assesses applications from transsexual people for legal recognition of the gender in which they now live.

Equal Opportunities Commission Publications

Meeting the gender duty for Transsexual Staff - Guidance for public bodies working in England, Wales and Scotland.

Gender Equality Duty: Code of Practice England and Wales

The Panel was set up under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and ensures that transsexual people can enjoy the rights and responsibilities appropriate to their acquired gender.

If a person is successful in their application to the Panel, they will be issued with a full Gender Recognition Certificate, and that person’s gender will become, for all purposes, their acquired gender.

The website provides information for applicants, medical practitioners and chartered psychologists, and other parties who may be interested in the gender recognition process.