Scottish Minister resigns over Gender Reform Bill

 

Ash Regan - Scottish Community Safety Minister

Ash Regan, the Scottish Government's Community Safety Minister, has resigned in protest at Gender Recognition Reform in Scotland. In her resignation letter to Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister, she said her "conscience" didn't allow her to vote for the proposals.

Critics, like the author J K. Rowling, have panned the proposals as a threat to women's sex-based rights. The Scottish government Bill on gender reform is intended to make it easier for people to change their legally recognized gender. It lowers the age for obtaining a gender recognition certificate from 18 to 16 and drops the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and a report from a psychiatrist.

Critics says the reforms could be abused by male sexual predators who will be allowed access to women's safe spaces.