Clause 1 - Applications

Part of Gender Recognition Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:15 am on 9 March 2004.

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Photo of Andrew Selous Andrew Selous Conservative, South West Bedfordshire 10:15, 9 March 2004

I, too, look forward to serving under your chairmanship, Mrs. Roe.

It is worth putting on the record that some people who change from their original gender to the other gender may later wish to change back to their original gender. Amendment No. 46 would provide in clause 1 a recognition that gender reversal may need to take place from time to time. I do not believe that there is any dispute with the Government on the point, as in the other place Lord Filkin stated in Committee that the Bill incorporates the right of gender reversal. He also said on Report that that right would be clear in the Bill, but I am not convinced that it is. As such, it would be helpful to add the proposed paragraph (c) to subsection (1), to make it clear beyond doubt that people who wish to change back to their original gender can do so.

A gender dysphoria awareness association comprising of post-operative transsexual patients who have reverted to their original biological sex was recently set up in Australia. The amendment would ensure that such people were fully and properly catered for and that their case was recognised explicitly in the Bill. I hope that the Minister will respond sympathetically to the amendment.