The SNP Government announced yesterday that it was kicking the can down the road on gender recognition act reforms.

While acknowledging the need for reform, Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville told the Scottish Parliament:

I am a feminist, and I am deeply—and rightly—proud that this Government has taken such clear and concerted action to protect women’s rights and to promote gender equality. I have stated before, as has the First Minister, that I do not feel a conflict between my support for women’s rights and my support for trans rights. However, I know and I understand that many people do. It is important that we listen to and address those concerns.

This is a very disappointing decision not least because the government is pandering to scaremongering and misinformation. Trans people are suffering every day from abuse and discrimination. Ministers should look at evidence not media hyperbole.

Every day in the media, we see yet another attack on trans people and the organisations that support them. And every time these have been scrutinised – such as when the charity Mermaids was subjected to a review for funding which they eventually got – they have been found to be completely without foundation.

SNP plans for a second consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act may well lead to no legislation being passed in the current parliament. The can is being kicked. #GRAreform pic.twitter.com/vQLHaGCao0

— Scottish Lib Dems (@scotlibdems) June 20, 2019

All GRA Reform does is make it easier for trans people to change their birth certificate. Scotland’s feminist organisations are all in favour of reform. Last year at Conference, Lib Dem Voice hosted a meeting at which Emma Ritch from Engender and James Morton from the Scottish Transgender Alliance explained how their organisations in Scotland had worked together for equal rights for all.

Christine Burns, who was at the forefront of campaigning for the law to be changed to protect transgender people from discrimination back in the 80s and 90s, highlighted the dangers of the Scottish Government’s approach:

The Scottish government has today made a fatal mistake. They’ve given the bullies an inch. You can expect the bullies to now demand a yard. A means of derailing liberalising reform has been road tested and perfected. Expect it to be used with vigour on other policy matters.

— Christine Burns MBE 🧜‍♀️🦍⧖ (@christineburns) June 20, 2019

Women are women. And trying to draw divisions between cis and trans over who gets women’s rights is exactly the divide and conquer tactics used by the people who want to diminish *all* women’s rights and all human rights.

The struggle for equality is one we should fight together.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings