Thank you to all of those who have contacted me about the Equality Act 2010 and the UK Government and Parliament petition ‘Commit to not amending the Equality Act’s definition of sex’.

The Government responded to the petition in January saying: “There are processes with appropriate checks to allow for those who wish to legally change their gender. Changes to the Equality Act are not necessary.” The full Government response is on the petition website.

Then, in February, the Women and Equalities Minister wrote to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to ask for its advice on the definition of the protected characteristic of sex in the Equality Act. The response from the Chair of the EHRC said: “A change to the Equality Act 2010, so that the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ means biological sex, could bring clarity in a number of areas, but potential ambiguity in others.” The EHRC recommended detailed policy and legal analysis to be undertaken, in compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty and with due regard to any possible disadvantages for trans men and trans women.

In response to a Written Question, on 24 April the Equalities Minister advised that “no decisions on any next steps have been made.”

As many of you highlighted, the petition is scheduled for a debate on 12 June. This will be an important opportunity for MPs to again attempt to seek clarification on the Government’s exact plans from a Government Minister. Any proposals the Government finally brings forward will need to be looked at very carefully, and every viewpoint needs to be heard respectfully.

I am proud of the way in which the Equality Act has strengthened people’s protections from disadvantage and discrimination, and we must not weaken its protections for people with protected characteristics.

More widely, I am proud of the work done by my colleagues both past and present that has taken Britain forward, such as same-sex civil partnerships, better maternity and paternity leave, and the minimum wage. I am committed to restoring the UK’s rightful place as a beacon of LGBT+ equality by banning all forms of conversion therapy, building consensus and modernising the gender recognition process and introducing tougher sentences for LGBT+ hate crime.

Thank you again to all those who have contacted me about this issue.