Tories accused of “dystopian” attack on trans community

The UK Conservative party has been criticised for launching a “dystopian” assault on the trans community through proposed changes in how the state gathers personal information.

Shadow technology minister Ben Spencer has introduced an amendment to the government’s Data (Use and Access) Bill. This amendment would require public bodies to collect data based on an individual’s sex at birth rather than their gender identity, according to ‘Yahoo! News’.

This proposal would compel organisations like the NHS to essentially disregard gender recognition certificates, which allow trans people to alter their legal gender on official documents.

The Tory initiative follows a UK Supreme Court decision that defined a woman by biology rather than gender, a significant setback for the trans community.

Due to Labour’s substantial majority in the Commons, the Tory amendment is highly likely to be rejected.

Encouraging MPs to vote against the amendment, Labour backbencher Clive Lewis told HuffPost UK: “If the state can override your legal identity, record you as something you are not, and share that across every public system—then no one’s rights are safe.

“This isn’t data accuracy; it’s institutionalised erasure and it has a very dark, authoritarian dystopia klaxon attached to it. Anyone remotely interested in living in a free, fair and tolerant society should oppose this.”

Similarly, Green Party MP Sian Berry mentioned to HuffPost UK: “Trans rights need to be defended by everyone right now, especially those with the power to make new laws.

“This deeply disturbing amendment would be a gross violation of trans people’s right to privacy, risking a mass outing of trans people across the UK. If passed, it would dangerously increase the risk of harassment and abuse already faced by this minority community.

“I’m pleased that the government opposed this amendment in the Bill’s committee stage, and I am hopeful it will do the same again tomorrow.”

This development comes after a review into gender data collection in Britain suggested that recognizing Gender Recognition Certificates had resulted in a “widespread loss of data on sex.”