Recognising Diversity? Equalities in Principle and Practice

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In recent years transgender has emerged as a subject of increasing social and cultural interest in the UK. Shifting attitudes towards transgender people in the UK are especially evident through recent legislative changes brought by the Gender Recognition Act (GRA, 2004). The GRA marks a key shift in attitudes towards transgender people; representing the civil recognition of gender transition through enabling gender diverse people to change their birth certificates to their acquired gender and to marry. Cultural and legislative developments suggest that gender diversity is acquiring visibility in contemporary society. Moreover, these developments reflect broader social changes around the conceptualisation and the practices of identity. This project will build on the previous ESRC research of the PI, which represents the only study on the impact of the GRA. ESRC Follow on Funding will enable this research to be developed, and its impacts maximised at a time of imminent and significant social, medical and legal change regarding law, policy and the care of gender diverse people. First, key changes are underway following recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that diagnostic guidelines move away from the concept of 'gender dysphoria'; the criterion on which mental health professionals draw in developing care provision for gender diverse people. Moreover, 'gender dysphoria' is a central criterion for members of the UK Gender Recognition Panel in considering applications for a Gender Recognition Certificate under the GRC; to be awarded a GRC, a diagnosis of 'gender dysphoria' is needed. Recommendations from WHO will thus impact on UK law, and legal and policy revisions will be required. This maps directly on to the policy recommendations of the PI's previous research, which, as developed from the research findings, recommends the removal of 'gender dysphoria' from the Diagnostic and Statistical Handbook (DSM) used by medical professionals to 'diagnose' transsexualism. The policy recommendations from the PI's research also recommend a simpler application process and less involvement of medical authorities in the legal process of gender recognition. The WHO recommendations are link also to these issues. Second, the GRA has come under criticism for its lack of recognition for non-gendered people and for the clause that married applicants have to divorce to successfully gain a GRC. Again, the findings of the PI's research highlighted these factors as ones of significant concern and the PI developed policy recommendations with the aim of providing greater levels of citizenship equality in these areas. The Coalition Government is due to review the GRA with view to amending it. Consequently, as part of the Coalition's 'Programme for Government' the Government Action Plan on Transgender Equality is currently in consultation processes with the Government Equalities Office. Through the wide-ranging planned programme of activities (see Objectives and Case for Support), Follow on Funding would provide a unique opportunity for the policy recommendations of the PI's previous research to feed into this consultation process, and to impact on guidelines developed for the redrafting of the GRA. The project would also contribute to public education. In addition to significantly developing the PI's research in this way, the planned activities and dissemination practices (see Case for Support and Pathways to Impact) serve to maximise impacts on immediate, medium and long term levels; leading to considerable overall impacts and knowledge exchange across stakeholder, policy, academic and practitioner fields. Overall, the project will enable the development of the PI's previous research to achieve maximum impact across a dynamic range network of academic, policy maker, practitioner, NGO, community, voluntary and campaigning organisations. In addition, it will enable these groups to forge links and create future working alliances