The PFC Library - Parliament and Government
Govt opposes protection on the basis of
"gender identity"
In the debate on the equal opportunities provisions of the legislation setting up up the new Scottish Parliament, the government opposed a cross-party amendment which would have defined equal opportunities to specifically include preventing discrimination on the basis of "gender identity". March 1998
Leaked Cabinet Office Report
Acknowledges Problems
A Cabinet Office Report, commissioned to lay the ground for inter-departmental work towards a Ministerial policy on transsexual rights acknowledged, for the first time on record, the problems which Press for Change has been highlighting for years. The report, prepared in April 1996 at the request of the Leader of the House Tony Newton and leaked to a national newspaper, enumerates the issues which confront each government department and provides a fascinating insight into inter-departmental power politics too.
In 1996, the Liberal Democrat MP, Alex Carlile put forward a Private Members bill to make it possible for transsexual people to have their birth certificates altered following treatment. This is the text of the Births, Marriages and Deaths Registration Act 1996, in the form approved by Press for Change.
The Alex Carlile Bill’s second reading
This extract from Hansard contains the verbatim account of the parliamentary debate, as it took place on February 2nd.
The second reading, in perspective
We ran out of time, the second reading of the bill never reached a vote, yet it was still a great success. Christine Burns puts it into context.
Just in case you might think it’s hard to come up with a bill, here’s just one fairly recent example from a world in which the overwhelming majority of countries now have fully enacted legislation.
Who What When - The false hope of identity cards
Don’t imagine that a national identity card scheme would solve the problems of transsexual status for the important things in life. Christine Burns explains why not.
Questions in Parliament :
how to do it
One of the most effective ways of getting ministers and back benchers to THINK about the implications of the present state of law is by having questions asked in the House of Commons. Why not ask your MP to table a question.
See our comprehensive record of parliamentary proceedibgs relating to the rights and status of of trans people: debates, questions, and legislation.
Over 100 MP’s have already given support to the Press for Change rights campaign.
Press for Change has the support of the overwhelming majority of UK MEPs, led by Mel Read. Here’s how to contact yours.
Message From Europe Not Received
The European Parliament made favourable noises about the need to address the plight of transsexual people as long ago as 1990 … although the recommendation which the parliament voted upon has lain virtually ignored ever since. Here, though, is that recommendation. Press for Change activist Frank Hannah will be presenting a question to the parliament, through his MEP in the course of 1998.
What does your vote in the 1997 General Election mean for the rights of trans people?