Recognising Diversity? Equalities in Principle and Practice

In recent years transgender has emerged as a subject of increasing social and cultural interest in the UK. Shifting attitudes towards transgender people in the UK are especially evident through recent legislative changes brought by the Gender Recognition Act (GRA, 2004). The GRA marks a key shift in attitudes towards transgender people; representing the civil recognition of gender transition through enabling gender diverse people to change their birth certificates to their acquired gender and to marry. Cultural and legislative developments suggest that gender diversity is acquiring visibility in contemporary society. Moreover, these developments reflect broader social changes around the conceptualisation and the practices of identity. This project will build on the previous ESRC research of the PI, which represents the only study on the impact of the GRA. ESRC Follow on Funding will enable this research to be developed, and its impacts maximised at a time of imminent and significant social, medical and legal change regarding law, policy and the care of gender diverse people.

First, key changes are underway following recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that diagnostic guidelines move away from the concept of 'gender dysphoria'; the criterion on which mental health professionals draw in developing care provision for gender diverse people. Moreover, 'gender dysphoria' is a central criterion for members of the UK Gender Recognition Panel in considering applications for a Gender Recognition Certificate under the GRC; to be awarded a GRC, a diagnosis of 'gender dysphoria' is needed. Recommendations from WHO will thus impact on UK law, and legal and policy revisions will be required. This maps directly on to the policy recommendations of the PI's previous research, which, as developed from the research findings, recommends the removal of 'gender dysphoria' from the Diagnostic and Statistical Handbook (DSM) used by medical professionals to 'diagnose' transsexualism. The policy recommendations from the PI's research also recommend a simpler application process and less involvement of medical authorities in the legal process of gender recognition. The WHO recommendations are link also to these issues. Second, the GRA has come under criticism for its lack of recognition for non-gendered people and for the clause that married applicants have to divorce to successfully gain a GRC. Again, the findings of the PI's research highlighted these factors as ones of significant concern and the PI developed policy recommendations with the aim of providing greater levels of citizenship equality in these areas. The Coalition Government is due to review the GRA with view to amending it. Consequently, as part of the Coalition's 'Programme for Government' the Government Action Plan on Transgender Equality is currently in consultation processes with the Government Equalities Office. Through the wide-ranging planned programme of activities (see Objectives and Case for Support), Follow on Funding would provide a unique opportunity for the policy recommendations of the PI's previous research to feed into this consultation process, and to impact on guidelines developed for the redrafting of the GRA. The project would also contribute to public education. In addition to significantly developing the PI's research in this way, the planned activities and dissemination practices (see Case for Support and Pathways to Impact) serve to maximise impacts on immediate, medium and long term levels; leading to considerable overall impacts and knowledge exchange across stakeholder, policy, academic and practitioner fields.

Overall, the project will enable the development of the PI's previous research to achieve maximum impact across a dynamic range network of academic, policy maker, practitioner, NGO, community, voluntary and campaigning organisations. In addition, it will enable these groups to forge links and create future working alliances

The project relates directly to three key areas identified by the ESRC as economic and social research challenges, and as strategic priorities for 2009-2014 (see Pathways to Impact). The proposal arises from a consultation exercise, which the PI conducted with a comprehensive range of organisations working in the field of gender diversity in the UK, including organisations, professionals, and representatives of key stakeholder organisations. The consultation engaged directly with UK policy makers (the Government Equality Office (GEO)), educational and research bodies (Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES)) and transgender support groups (GENDYS and the Beaumont Trust), whom this proposal was developed with (see Letters of Support). Each of these stakeholder/user groups commented on early drafts of the proposal and put forward ideas for the planned activities in relation to their own strategic goals. For example, the idea for the Gender Review came out of the strategic priorities of the GEO and GIRES to develop a programme of public education and awareness; while each of the above groups suggested that workshops and seminars would be productive. The conference was also supported by the consulted organisations and members of each have agreed to attend as speakers. The consultation indicated that the proposed project will have considerable impact, and that there is a need for the policy recommendations of the PI's previous research to be developed and maximised for immediate, medium and long-term impact (see Letters of Support). As well as contributing to the development of the proposal, these key stakeholder groups are written into the proposal in terms of its delivery, dissemination strategy and impact programme throughout the project and beyond. The beneficiaries will include:
1) Gender diverse people and those close to them.
2) Voluntary and Community organisations (such as the Scottish Transgender Alliance; Equalities Network; Equalities Unit; Press For Change, GENDYS, the Beaumont Society GIRES, SYBILS, and the Gender Trust, as well as the many and transgender support group organisations operating in the UK). Benefits will include the development of knowledge concerning gender diversity law and policy, care provision, and of the changes taking place with law, policy and care provision at a national and international level (see Case for Support and Letters of Support).
3) Stakeholder groups (such as the Government Equalities Office and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission) (see Case for Support).
4) Professionals working with gender diverse people, especially those in Gender Identity Clinics; although the project will be of interest across the different tiers of healthcare provision. The research findings could be drawn on in terms of identifying and publicising good and interesting practice, potentially improving relations with the wider gender diverse communities.
5) Policy makers concerned with gender diversity and wellbeing. The Review will be disseminated to key agencies such as the Department of Health.
6) The international networks and communities of practice associated with gender diversity, including WPATH.
7) Wider society. Findings will be disseminated through the media (for example the Guardian and the BBC) in relation to public education.

There will be immediate impacts during the project (via the Review, workshops, seminars and the conference); medium term impacts (via further dissemination of the Review and press releases) and longer term impacts (via the policy/practice recommendations and academic publications). The conference will enable links to be formed between user-groups, stakeholders and academics. In turn, this will bring potential for future collaborations between these sectors; enabling the legacy of the activity to be managed to engage beneficiaries, and to provide lasting value to participants, stakeholders, social science communities and wider society.