Information on evidence related to pp174-5 of the consultation on GRA reform

The request was successful.

Dear Scottish Government,

This is a request for information relating to the statements at pp174-5 of the consultation paper on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, issued on 17 December 2019, quoted below:

“10. The Scottish Government has not identified any evidence supporting the claim that trans women are more likely than non-trans women to sexually assault other women in women-only spaces. Much of the literature reiterates this lack of any evidence, legal, medical or otherwise, to support this characterisation of trans women as ‘deviant’ or predatory. In addition to concerns about the inclusion of trans women in women-only spaces and services, some respondents expressed concerns that predatory men posing as trans women would seek to gain access to women only spaces and services for malicious reasons.

11. The Scottish Government has not identified any evidence supporting a link between women-only spaces being inclusive of transgender women, and nontrans men falsely claiming a trans identity to access these spaces and commit sexual violence. Other sources identified reiterated that there is a lack of any evidence to support this claim to access these spaces and commit sexual violence. Other sources identified reiterated that there is a lack of any evidence to support this claim.”

Please could you provide details of the process by which the Scottish Government sought to establish what relevant evidence was available, including exchanges with third parties regarding the availability of such evidence (copies of correspondence, details of any meetings or phone conversations, and, where available, records of meetings), what evidence was considered by the Scottish Government, and any analysis of relevant evidence produced or commissioned by the Scottish Government, or otherwise provided to it.

Yours faithfully,

Lucy Blackburn

Scottish Government

Our Reference: 202000011220

Dear Lucy Blackburn,

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Yours sincerely
MiCase
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1 Attachment

Please find attached a response to your correspondence.
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intended solely for the attention of the addressee(s). Unauthorised use,
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lawful purposes. The views or opinions contained within this e-mail may
not necessarily reflect those of the Scottish Government.
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