Gender recognition Bill expected to pass today after mammoth session at Holyrood

dailyrecord.co.uk:

MSPs are expected to pass controversial gender recognition legislation later today following a mammoth debate in the Scottish Parliament.They voted on a number of amendments to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill late into the night on Tuesday after proceedings were delayed by the Scottish Tories.The Bill will remove the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria currently required to receive a gender recognition certificate (GRC).It would also lower the minimum age for applicants to 16 and drop the time required for an applicant to live in their acquired gender from two years to three months - six for people aged 16 and 17 - though with a three-month reflection period.MSPs will consider the last of the 153 amendments lodged at stage three of the Bill - following a marathon session of parliament on Tuesday that saw members sitting until just after midnight - before a final vote on Wednesday afternoon.On Tuesday, MSPs backed a change tabled by SNP MSP Gillian Martin to the law which meant anyone subject to a sexual harm prevention order or sexual offences prevention order would not be allowed to seek a GRC.Meanwhile, a push by fellow SNP MSP to ensure applications would be paused if an applicant was charged with a sexual offence until their case was disposed off divided members by 61 votes to 61 - as is customary Deputy Presiding Officer Liam McArthur used his casting vote against the change.The sitting yesterday was suspended after protesters shouted "shame on you, there is no democracy here" from the public gallery.

It came after another amendment that would make it harder for sex offenders to apply for a GRC was voted down.It also appeared the Scottish Tories were attempting to make the proceedings take