Government releases ground-
breaking trans equality report
The Government has released a report detailing the findings of a major review of trans
equality in the UK. While there have been huge steps forward for trans people living
in the UK, it remains one of the least equal groups in society with issues surrounding
treatment, long term care and marriage dominating the concerns of activism groups in
the UK. With this in mind, the Women and Equalities Committee have met and talked
to a range of experts in the field and drawn up a range of issues that need to be sorted, as
well as suggested possible solutions.
All sounds very dry, dull and political, but
actually the results of the consultation make
pretty interesting reading for anybody whose
life is affected by trans issues. Around 4,500
new referrals are made to the NHS a year and
this number obviously doesn’t include those
who have already had dealings with the NHS
or those who have not sought any treatment.
This illustrates the scale of the community,
one which for various reasons is growing year
on year.
The report openly admits that the NHS is
currently letting down its trans patients. Both
during surgery, primary care and for unrelated
day-to-day medical needs, trans people
encounter problems in their care, whether
it is access to treatment or a lack of GP
understanding. The report also supports the
depathologising of gender issues which gives
the impression that being trans is a mental
health problem or a disease. And with a 50%
rise each year in child referrals, the procedure
for how the NHS deal with younger people will
also be reviewed, according to the report.
The whole process of gender recognition is also
under the spotlight. Currently the process is
described as ‘bureaucratic’ and ‘humiliating’,
and of course expensive as it costs around £140
not to mention the traveling and time it takes
to complete the process. The report suggests
that Parliament must bring forward proposals
to update the Gender Recognition Act and
the whole process should be focused on the
individual and their needs rather than medical
examinations and evidence. The problems
surrounding spousal consent, a tricky area and
one which has caused a good deal of protest,
will also be re-examined.
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