The Welsh Government has launched an action plan that will make it easier for individuals to legally change their gender in Wales. On Tuesday, the Government unveiled its LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales, which detailed how it would strengthen equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in the country.
It comes after the UK Government decided it would block the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform Bill in January. As it stands in the UK, an individual needs to be medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria before obtaining a gender recognition certificate.
The Scottish legislation would have made it easier for trans people to change their legally recognised gender, a "more respectful and straightforward" process for trans men and women, according to the Stonewall charity. The legislation was passed in a vote of 86 to 39 by Scottish MPs in December of last year, but last month the UK Government announced it would block the implementation through an order under Section 35 of the Scotland Act.
