An LGBT charity that receives hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxpayers’ money is calling on the Scottish Government to allow children to ‘change legal sex’ on demand.
Under new plans, people would be allowed to live in their acquired gender for just three months before applying for legal recognition. Currently it is two years.
After another three months, applicants would receive a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) – and a new birth certificate.
Public money
But LGBT Youth Scotland claims the three month gap is an “arbitrary time period”, and that under 16-year-olds with parental support should be able to obtain a GRC.
Describing the life-altering decision as simply an “update” to children’s birth certificates, the group also calls for legal recognition for people who say they are neither male nor female.
According to its 2018-19 financial records, LGBT Youth Scotland received in excess of £700,000 in public money.
Its figures show that the Scottish Government gave it over £300,000, while NHS groups and councils also contributed.
Children in Need
LGBT Youth Scotland also received tens of thousands of pounds from the Lottery and BBC Children in Need.
In 2017, the group produced misleading guidance that was sidelined following intervention from The Christian Institute.
‘Supporting Transgender Young People’ advises teachers to allow children to use the changing facilities and toilets of their choice.
Backtrack
The guidance was published in November 2017, and the Scottish Government was criticised over its logo appearing on the cover.
The Institute threatened legal action in 2018. It warned that the guidance was misleading, and gave no regard for the rights of parents, the privacy of teachers and students, and exemptions in the Equality Act.
Following the pressure, the Scottish Government backtracked in July, claiming it did not take “any decision to formally endorse the guidance”, while LGBT Youth Scotland said the inclusion of the logo was “an error”.
Last year, the Government said it would produce its own guidance.