In a bid to enhance the precision of public records, a recent review has advocated for UK public services to prioritize the documentation of biological sex over gender identity. This move comes as a response to various incidents where disregarding biological sex has led to potential risks to public safety.
One significant area of concern is the failure of police departments to accurately record the sex of individuals involved in sexual offenses. A prominent case highlighting this issue is that of Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam, a biological male who identifies as a woman. Bryson was convicted of raping two women in 2023, during which time Bryson was undergoing gender transition. Initially placed in a women’s prison, public outcry resulted in Bryson’s transfer to a men’s facility.
The review, led by Professor Alice Sullivan from the Social Research Institute and University College London, strongly recommends that police forces document offenders’ biological sex rather than their gender identity. While the government has acknowledged these findings, it has yet to commit to their implementation.
Concerns extend to the healthcare sector as well, where the review advises the NHS to halt issuing new NHS numbers based on self-identified gender. The practice presents “clear clinical risks,” potentially excluding individuals from necessary sex-specific medical procedures like smear tests or prostate exams. Furthermore, the report warns of the dangers in misinterpreting lab results if a patient’s biological sex is unclear, which could lead to “potentially fatal consequences.”
Public bodies have been criticized for inconsistencies in recording sex and gender, contributing to the problem. The report also notes a pervasive fear among public service staff regarding discussions on sex and gender, with many employees feeling their work environments are too hostile to safely express concerns.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
