Parliamentary StatementLORD CHANCELLORS DEPARTMENT TranssexualsMr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor’s Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that transsexuals are accorded the same level of rights whether or not the end of the gender realignment process is clear. [118794] Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government are committed to legislating as soon as possible to give transsexual people their Convention rights. We aim to publish a draft Bill later this Session with substantive legislation following when parliamentary time allows. The draft Bill will give legal recognition in their acquired gender to transsexual people who can demonstrate that they have taken decisive steps towards living fully and permanently in the gender acquired since they were registered at birth. Changing legal identity is a serious step, with significant consequences. It is important that no one should embark upon formal recognition in the acquired gender without convincing evidence. We will therefore propose that applications should be scrutinised by an authorising body, given legal powers to assess medical evidence before the transsexual person is allowed to register in the new gender. In some cases, where the person undertook gender reassignment years earlier, and has lived successfully in the acquired gender, that assessment may be straightforward. In other cases, the authorising body will need to be assured that, in addition to meeting medical criteria, the transsexual person has lived successfully in the acquired gender for at least two years. The medical criteria may include medical treatments to modify the person's sexual characteristics, but the Government will not require surgery as a condition of registration in the acquired gender. 18 Jun 2003 : Column 283W |