Clause 7

Part of Equality Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:15 am on 16 June 2009.

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Photo of Evan Harris Evan Harris Shadow Science Minister 11:15, 16 June 2009

The problem is the other way around. Often, one can have an external manifestation without an internal decision being made. The fundamental point that we have made in both these debates is that we need to find a way to cover people who, for example, may cross-dress. It is therefore obvious that they may be a target for discrimination, and indeed harassment in certain circumstances. They may not necessarily have made a decision or, in respect of harassment and discrimination outside employment, they may be too young—below the age of Gillick competence or Fraser competence—to be legally able to start or to propose externally that they should undergo gender reassignment. There is still a fundamental difference between our positions.

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