Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has advised the Scottish government against appealing a court ruling supporting the UK government’s opposition to gender reform. She suggested that politicians should seek to “heal divisions not exacerbate them” and insisted that a new bill should carefully balance the rights of trans individuals with those of women and girls. The Scottish authorities have three weeks to decide whether or not to proceed with an appeal. Forbes has previously criticised the Scottish government’s pursuit of legal action over Section 35, which she argued could absorb public funds and encourage further UK governmental interference in devolution.
Forbes underlined the negative impact the court case has already had on various groups, exacerbating tensions and engendering fear and uncertainty. If the Scottish government were to appeal the Court of Session’s ruling, the case could eventually end up in the UK Supreme Court. The bill, aimed at easing the path for individuals to change their legal and recognised gender, was passed last year by the Scottish Parliament, with prospective cross-party support currently standing at 86 for and 39 against.
Opponents of the reform have argued that it could threaten the safety of women and girls in public spaces such as refuges or hospital wards. Supporters have claimed the measure would help trans individuals to make the process of applying for a gender recognition certificate smoother and less traumatic. Forbes came second in the SNP leadership contest after Nicola Sturgeon resigned earlier this year, and is an outspokenly religious politician, having suffered a backlash over her views on religious matters. As such, she has expressed doubt over the bill as it stands and previously voiced reservations over gender self-identification
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