ABSTRACT

Gender Recognition Act 2004 was fought for over the course of three decades. Its passing was rightly seen as a great victory for the transgender community, and for the human rights of equality and dignity. This Act allows individuals to apply to a Gender Recognition Panel, for the granting of a 'Gender Recognition Certificate'. Panel is obliged to grant the Certificate if the applicant has or has had gender dysphoria, has lived in the acquired gender for at least two years, and intends to continue to do so for the rest of his or her life. If medical science is unable to do this, then the law cannot do so either, and the Gender Recognition Act 2004 is, therefore, of limited scope, it does not turn a man into a woman, nor does it tackle the 'impossibility' of changing sex. However much the law strives for equal opportunities and outlaws sex discrimination, society remains gendered and so does the law.