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This piece from @BBCNews is riddled with factual errors and distortions. I've just complained to them https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53101071
Here's what I said: This paragraph is completely inaccurate, misrepresenting the law:
"Currently, the Gender Recognition Act requires trans people to go through a long and medical process in order to change their birth certificates..." 1/n
"Currently, the Gender Recognition Act requires trans people to go through a long and medical process in order to change their birth certificates..." 1/n
For this reason, many do not, and instead rely on the Equality Act 2010 which allows any trans person who has transitioned to be recognised as their acquired gender. Transitioning does not have to include surgery."
Trans people do NOT need to go through a medical process. 2/n
Trans people do NOT need to go through a medical process. 2/n
They need approval from two doctors, but no medical or surgical procedures are acquired. The Equality Act does NOT require any trans person to be recognised as their acquired gender. 3/n
It allows for those who have a gender recognition certificate under the Gender Recognition Act 2005 to change their 'legal sex', which for some purposes but not all allows them to be treated as members of the opposite sex to their biological sex. 4/n
Both the GRA and the EA state some exceptions.
The Equality Act explicitly says that a woman is a "female of any age" and a man is "a male of any age". In other words, trans people, except for the 5,000 with gender recognition certificates, are unambiguously... 5/n
The Equality Act explicitly says that a woman is a "female of any age" and a man is "a male of any age". In other words, trans people, except for the 5,000 with gender recognition certificates, are unambiguously... 5/n
...still to be treated as members of their actual biological sex. It also gives them to the protected characteristic of "gender reassignment", which means that they cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of being trans - harassed, sacked, that sort of thing. 6/n
It is NOT discrimination to treat someone as a member of their biological and legal sex.
Finally, the government does NOT plan to lessen trans people's rights, it plans to enforce current law, which has been misrepresented by lobby groups - including to the media. 7/n
Finally, the government does NOT plan to lessen trans people's rights, it plans to enforce current law, which has been misrepresented by lobby groups - including to the media. 7/n
Please correct this gross distortion. There is far too much misinformation going around, and the BBC should be countering it, not adding to it. 8/8
