Leading transsexual activists have criticised the government’s plans for identity cards. 

Gender Spectrum UK has launched an online petition aimed at ensuring the safety of people “who present themselves in a manner which is not the same as the gender to which they were assigned at birth.”

Current proposals will allow those undergoing treatment to change their gender to buy TWO cards, until they obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). One will show male, one will show female. One will be valid for travel through Europe, one won’t.

A Gender Spectrum UK spokesperson said:

“Both will be in the person’s legal name, but one will identify the person as male, the other as female. The one in the birth gender will be valid for travel throughout Europe, the other will not. Once a full GRC has been issued, a single ID card will be issued in the acquired gender.

 

“The guidelines also state that the database will also keep details of your birth gender, even after a GRC has been issued.

 

“We believe that a person carrying two ID cards, each bearing details that conflict with the other, will be become vulnerable and at risk from harm from foreign security services or members of the public, particularly in volatile countries and/or situations. We believe that this puts many people’s lives at risk. We also believe that this puts many people who do not have a GRC in a vulnerable position.”