A Dundee lecturer has been criticised for claiming proposals to make it easier for children to choose their own gender amount to “state-sponsored child abuse”.
Dr Stuart Waiton, a sociologist at Abertay University, made the comments in response to a Scottish Government consultation on measures that would allow young people to be legally recognised as male, female or non binary.
At present, people have to provide medical evidence and live in an acquired gender for two years in order to seek legal recognition.
The proposed changes would allow individuals aged 16 and over to choose their gender by self-declaration.
The consultation paper also suggests children as young as 12 could ask a solicitor, or another responsible adult, to make a declaration on their behalf.
Dr Waiton questioned the wisdom of putting such life-changing decisions in the hands of young children.
“In a liberal society, it is up to individuals to make decisions about their lives for themselves but this does not mean that we should be cheering on this culture of narcissism,” he said.
“Eighteen year olds can do what they like with their bodies. But for a government to suggest that 12-year-olds, immature young people, who don’t have the ‘right’ to go to bed when they want, let alone anything else, can have gender reassignment should be seen as a form of state sponsored child abuse.
“Twelve year-olds are children; that we are considering giving them a choice of this magnitude at such a young age simply demonstrates the extent to which we are losing our sense of adulthood and maturity.”
His comments were dismissed by Dundee City Council’s equalities spokesperson, Gregor Murray.
The Dundee children and families services convener said: “Dr Waiton says that young people may be confused, but it appears that he is the confused one, as he is rallying against something that is not being proposed here.
“Clinical decisions will continue to be made by medical professionals within the NHS.
“This consultation is about legally recognising trans people sooner, recognising non-binary people, and making the process of correct recognition smoother.
“We do not believe that it is ‘narcissism’ to be referred to with the correct pronouns, we believe it is basic human decency.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004 is about legal gender recognition.
“The consultation proposes that the age of applicants for legal gender recognition should be reduced from 18 to 16.
“We have not reached a view about whether it is appropriate to allow people under 16 to apply for this. The consultation sets out options for under 16s and seeks respondents’ views on these options.”
