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edinburgh [Scotland]December 23 (ANI): Scottish lawmakers have passed controversial legislation that would make it easier for transgender people to legally change their gender, despite a toxic debate that has split the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), according to The Scots , a Scottish newspaper
Now that the bill has passed and should receive royal assent, it will lower the minimum age for people seeking a gender recognition certificate to 16 and reduce the time it takes applicants to live in their acquired gender from two years to three moon.
It also eliminates the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria to obtain a certificate.
The legislation received 86 votes in favor to 39 against on Thursday (local time), passing after a marathon week of parliamentary scrutiny.
While passing the latest law, the SNP faced for the second time the largest rebellion in the history of the Scottish Parliament, with nine rebels in government seats voting against the bill.
Scottish Labor also saw two of their junior speakers resign after breaking their whips and voting against the bill, The Scotsman reported.
Scottish Labor’s spokesmen for drugs and mental health respectively, Claire Baker and Carol Morkan, resigned immediately after the vote. The party’s education spokeswoman, Michael Mara, and the party’s judicial spokeswoman, Pauline McNeil, were both given leave of absence to allow them to avoid voting.
The Scottish Conservative Party, which gives Scottish MPs a free vote, saw three members support the bill – two more than in stage one, The Scotsman reported.
However, the UK government immediately stepped in and said it could use unprecedented powers in the Scotland Act to block the bill in the Supreme Court.
Section 35 of the Scottish Act allows the UK government to intervene and prevent the passage of legislation if it considers that it changes or adversely affects the operation of the law on reservations.
After the final vote, Scottish minister Alister Jack said the government should consider taking action in the Supreme Court, with many expressing concerns about some aspects of the bill, particularly the safety of women and children, according to the Scots.
“We will be watching this closely in the coming weeks, and the fallout from the Equality Act 2010 and other UK-wide legislation – including a Section 35 order stopping the Act from obtaining royal assent if necessary,” Jack was quoted as saying by The Scot.
However, Shauna Robinson, the cabinet minister for social justice, said it would be “very disappointing” if the bill was defeated after a “decisive” vote.
She said, “It would be very disappointing if the UK government did not respect Scottish democracy and the decisions of the Scottish Parliament. Policy in this area is entirely devolved.” (Arney)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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