UPDATE: On Friday 19 October, the deadline by which to submit responses to the Government's consultation of transgender rights was extended to Monday 22 October at 12PM. So, you have more time to share your thoughts (and hopefully their site won't freeze now – try Stonewall's as well).If you care about LGBTQIA rights, you'll also care about reforming the Gender Recognition Act. Now, after the deadline was extended from Friday 19 October at 11PM to Monday 22 October at 12PM, you have the chance to help do exactly that, by calling on the government to make vital changes to the GRA via the official consultation.When it was passed in 2004, the GRA was one of the most progressive pieces of LGBTQI equality legislation worldwide. In 2018, that law is no longer working. As it stands, trans people have to go through a lengthy, expensive, medicalised process to "prove" they are trans enough to be granted a Gender Recognition Certificate. Reforms to the GRA would simplify this process, allowing trans people the right to self determine, as they already can in countries across the world.
If you want to read up more on the topic before submitting your thoughts, check out VICE UK's Recognise Me series, guest edited by journalist Shon Faye. We debunked the transphobic myths being spread by panicked anti-trans campaigners; spoke to politicians, trans people and campaigners about why GRA reform matters; heard from people who transitioned young that support is vital; and mapped out the history of the Gender Recognition Act, to demonstrate its failings.The consultation closes on Monday 22 October at 12PM, meaning you have all weekend to find a spare ten minutes to submit your thoughts. Please do join VICE UK and Stonewall in calling on the government to improve trans equality here.