WESC inquiry: transgender equality and reform of the GRA

Gender-critical organisations

In the 2015 inquiry there were few responses focused on women’s rights or concern about transitioning children; these included Lesbian Rights Group, Women and Girls Equality Network, Women Analysing Policy on Women, and the Women’s Resource Centre.

In 2021, around 30 gender-critical groups and individuals responded the call for evidence, including:

Academics and researchers 2021

On 9th December 2020 Professor Stephen Whittle OBE (Professor of Equalities Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Vice President and Head of Legal Services at Press for Change), Professor Alex Sharpe (Professor at the School of Law at University of Warwick), and Dr Ruth Pearce (Research Coordinator at Trans Learning Partnership, and Visiting Researcher in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at University of Leeds) gave oral evidence – read the transcript

Trans activist organisations

There were around 30 submissions from trans rights organisations and groups in 2021. These are some of the larger ones.

On 17th March 2021 Nancy Kelley (Chief Executive Officer at Stonewall), Lui Asquith (Director of Legal and Policy at Mermaids), Cat Burton (Chair of GIRES), and Dr Jane Hamlin (President at Beaumont Society) gave oral evidence – read the transcript.

Large charities

Government departments and agencies

In 2015 there were many submissions from government departments; in 2021 there were far fewer. The Equality and Human Rights Commission wrote to say that it would not be submitting evidence; the Committee has said it will call the commission to give oral evidence.

Paula Grey, President of the Gender Recognition Panel, submitted written evidence on how the panel works. She declined to attend to give oral evidence, but did send written answers to questions.