Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2004: consultation

Glossary of terms

“2004 Act” – the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

“acquired gender” – the 2004 Act describes this as the gender (either the “male gender” or the “female gender”) in which an applicant is living and seeking recognition.

“devolved” – a matter devolved to the Scottish Parliament (for example marriage law).

“gender dysphoria” – used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between the sex they were assigned at birth and their gender identity.

“gender identity” – a person’s internal sense of self and how they see themselves in terms of being a man or a woman, or being somewhere in between or beyond these categories (see non-binary below).

“ GRC” – a gender recognition certificate. Under the 2004 Act, a full GRC provides legal recognition of an applicant’s acquired gender. When a GRC is issued under the 2004 Act, the applicant’s legal sex also changes to male or female.

“Gender Recognition Panel” – deals with applications for legal gender recognition made under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

“intersex” – a general term used for a variety of physical differences in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.

“non-binary” – an umbrella term for people who do not identify as men or women.

“reserved” – a matter reserved to Westminster (for example pensions).

“transgender” or “trans” – umbrella terms used to describe a diverse range of people who find that their gender does not fully correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-binary people can also be included under the trans umbrella, although some may not consider themselves as trans.