Trans self-identification would not be a threat to women, says Labour MP

Labour MP Angela Eagle has called on the government's Gender Recognition Act to be scrapped in favour of a self-identification system.

The MP for Wallasey told a debate in Westminster Hall that the current legislation, which requires a diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate, is "out of date."

Ms Eagle told the debate that the current process for trans people wishing to seek formal recognition of their gender is "humiliating, intrusive, difficult to deal with and ought to be abandoned."

She went on: "Is this [reform] a threat to others in our society?

"I would say no.

"We have seen the reform of gender recognition certificates and processes throughout the world.

'After leading in the world we are now falling very very far behind."

Labour MP Nadia Whittome called on reforms to the Gender Recognition Act, to include "non-binary" people and "under-18s."

Conservative MP Miriam Cates told the debate self-identification would threaten "sex-based rights."

"There are sound reasons of privacy, safety and dignity, for women's requirement for single-sex spaces and services.

"When using changing rooms, sleeping accomodation or in prison, women and girls have a right to expect that there are no malkes also using those spaces.

"Self-ID could threaten those sex-based rights.

"It could row back on decades of progress towards women and equality.

The debate comes following a petition which achieved more than 135,000 signatures, calling for reform to the Gender Recognition Act.

The petition stated as its aim: "Reform the GRA to allow transgender people to self-identify without the need for a medical diagnosis, to streamline the administrative process, and to allow non-binary identities to be legally recognised."