The UK government has voted in favour to block a Scottish gender recognition bill from going to royal assent, that makes it easier for people to change their legally recognised gender. 

The passing of this bill made Scotland the first nation in the UK to back a self-identification process for legally changing gender. But the UK government has used a Section 35 order, a provision which can block Scottish laws for the first time ever, to thwart Scotland's efforts to expand transgender rights. 

News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, interviewed the Scottish Green's equalities and human rights issues spokesperson, Maggie Chapman, who is the Vice Convener of the Equalities, Humans Rights, and Civil Justice committee that took the gender recognition reform legisation through Scottish parliament last year. 

She also spoke to Research Associate at the University of Auckland Public Policy Institute, Dr Sarah Bickerton about harmful rhetoric surrounding transgender and other minority rights in the UK, and the potential implications of blocking this legislation on Scottish democracy.