The UK can’t ignore Scotland’s gender recognition Bill

On Monday we learned that Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) issued in Scotland might not be accepted in England and Wales. Last month Scotland passed its contentious Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which means that anyone over the age of 16 can legally change their gender after three months, even if they don’t have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.  

But now, according to the Times, UK government sources say that unless the Scottish government amends its legislation and requires someone to have a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, Scottish gender recognition certificates won’t be recognised in the rest of the UK.

The UK government may think this is the ‘Legoland driving licence’ solution to gender recognition, with Scotland issuing GRCs to anyone who wants one, but with those certificates having as much validity south of the border as permits issued by the Lego City Driving School on the public highway. But there is a problem that the UK government may not have considered.