Order, Order.

We turn now to a Vote on SM176, in the name of the Scottish Conservatives. The question is that this Parliament approves the Motion calling for the Reform of the Care of Transgender People in Scotland.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Motion calling for the Reform of the Care of Transgender People in Scotland

This Parliament notes that: (1) Gender dysphoria, as it exists as a diagnosis in the NHS system, is not valuable as a clinical diagnosis, due to (2) Statistically significant numbers of trans people (30%) disclosing lying or withholding information during gender dysphoria assessments. (3) Removing the need for the diagnosis of gender dysphoria would significantly reduce the administrative burden placed on gender identity clinics.

This Parliament therefore calls on the Government to: (4) Issue new ministerial guidance to the NHS in Scotland on how transgender people are to be treated, with particular regard to access to hormone replacement therapy, referrals for surgery, and connected purposes. (5) Undertake a cost-saving review of the GIC system in Scotland to examine what services become superfluous once the need for diagnosis is removed. (6) Take action within the NHS in Scotland to ensure that mainstream mental health services do not discriminate with regards to whether someone is trans when their treatment options are considered.

This motion was authored by the Rt Hon /u/Underwater_Tara, Dame Countess De La Warr, and is submitted on behalf of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.

Opening Speech

Deputy Presiding Officer,

May I begin by quoting the philosopher and celebrity Abigail Thorn:

“Gender dysphoria is supposedly the feeling of discomfort that arises when there is a disconnect between the sex you were assigned at birth and the gender you are. And I think that this concept… is a complete crock of sh*t.”

Deputy presiding Officer - she is right. Despite action taken by previous governments on the advice of parliament through the Rt Hon Member for Glasgow Shettleston, the need for clinical diagnosis of a functionally bankrupt diagnosis remains baked into the Scottish NHS system. Just to clear the air and clarify, I count within the demographic affected by this archaic system - I’m a trans woman. A diagnosis of “gender dysphoria” should not be required in order to transition - it is a needless flaming hoop to be jumped through.

It is undeniable that many trans people also have other mental health problems such as PTSD, dissociative disorders, as well as there being high overlap between the transgender community and the neurodivergent community. It is my belief that there is no need to treat a trans autistic person, for example, differently to a cisgender autistic person. They will have similar support needs and there is no need to section one group off from the other and consider the trans individual like they’re something special.

Treating trans people as an entirely separate demographic, in my belief, in the NHS is fundamentally dehumanising experience. I don’t believe that our mental health struggles and illnesses are any different to a cisgender person and I believe the system should reflect that.

Link to Motion Debate

Voting on this item of Business ends with the close of Business on April 29th, at 10 pm BST.