Scotland urges UK central government not to make ‘trans law’ a “political weapon”

16 Jan. () –

Scotland’s chief minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has warned the UK central government of the risk of using the law facilitating gender self-determination as a “political weapon”, warning that any possible veto from London would be an “atrocity”.

The Scottish Parliament gave the law the green light in December, by a wide margin though not without controversy, both within and outside of the strictly political arena.

The reform reduces the age at which a change of gender can be requested from the administration to 16 years, eliminates the requirement to present a medical report and reduces to three months the time in which the applicant must have lived according to the gender claimed –six months if it is a minor–.

London has the ability to veto the project, in an unprecedented move that, if carried out, would be this week. “No decision has been made so far,” said the Downing Street spokesman, who has placed the ball in the court of the minister responsible for Scottish affairs, according to the BBC.

However, Sturgeon has already pointed out that any hypothetical veto would be merely a “political decision”. In his opinion, he would imply “using trans people, who are already one of the most vulnerable and stigmatized groups in society, as a political weapon.”

The main minister of Scotland has recalled that the law was approved by an “overwhelming majority”, including Labor. The main Labor leader, Keir Starmer, has however questioned the lowering of the minimum age to apply for a gender change in the registry.