- The Scottish government drafted legislation which will simplify the process for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate. If passed, the bill would remove the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and would reduce the minimum age from 18 to 16. The consultation stated that there was no evidence supporting the claim that men take advantage of transgender identity to commit sexual violence. A spokeswoman for women’s rights group For Women Scotland told The Times:
“It is of great concern that since the consultation announcement in June the Scottish government has not met with any women’s groups, other than those it funds and who are broadly in agreement with the proposals. Alternative viewpoints and concerns on the issue of self-identification of sex have not been heard and brings into question the cabinet secretary’s wish to reach consensus.”
- An investigation into record-low UK rape convictions revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service was selectively prosecuting cases considered “easy” to win, even as other cases were delayed to conduct background investigations on victims – in some cases requesting school records and mobile phones.
- There were a record 58,657 allegations of rape in 2018, but only 1,925 successful prosecutions; convictions are at the lowest point since data collection began in 2008, in spite of record-high allegations.
- A Swedish investigation into the practices of Stockholm gender clinics for youth revealed that recent legislation intended to streamline the process of sex-reassignment surgery for teens was based on an unsubstantiated claim of suicidality.
- The government of New York proposed reforms to state rape laws in order to clarify that it is not possible to consent while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and as a result become “mentally incapacitated.”
- The Twitter account for a site challenging the transitioning of kids, 4thWaveNow, remains suspended, after using the term “natal male” in a tweet.