A helpline agent for the Scottish Census has told a parent to enter what they feel is the ‘best fit’ for their toddler’s sex when filling in the household questionnaire.
Guidance says people completing the census on someone else’s behalf can choose which sex to record, regardless of the sex registered on their birth certificate or on a gender recognition certificate.
A legal challenge to questions on sex and gender in the census by women’s rights campaigners Fair Play For Women was thrown out by the Court of Session last month.
Feelings based
The Times reported that a parent sought advice from Scotland’s Census’ helpline on completing the question “What is your sex?” for their young child, whom they were raising to be “gender neutral”.
go with what you feel
When told it was possible to “use the sex registered on their official documents, such as passport or birth certificate”, the parent asked: “But we don’t have to if it doesn’t seem right for them and we think the other describes them better?”
After further investigations, the agent confirmed: “Correct, go with what you feel describes them better.”
’Plain crazy’
On Twitter, Scotsman columnist Susan Dalgety said: “Sorry, but this is just plain crazy. What kind of government allows parents to ‘choose’ the sex of their child for census purposes, regardless of reality.”
Former Labour Minister Tom Harris added: “Scots told it’s okay to lie on the census form. Another first for Scotland!”
Scots told it's okay to lie on the census form. Another first for Scotland! https://t.co/d3QjoSfNM7
— Tom Harris (@MrTCHarris) March 19, 2022
Scottish Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher responded: “The census is vital for finding out the characteristics of the nation but advice like this could put some individuals off filling it in.”
Damaging dogma
Prominent independent social worker Maggie Mellon lamented the serious consequences of “enforced belief in gender identity” on Scotland’s children.
Writing in The Times she said: “Children are told that being ‘trans’ is special and brave, something to be celebrated.
“They are being encouraged to unquestioningly accept that children and adults can be any sex they believe that they are.”
She also warned against the controversial charities Mermaids, Stonewall and LGBT Youth Scotland – often “recommended as sources of advice” to children – which “encourage puberty blockers and breast binding, as well as keeping secrets from parents”.
Biological sex
Mellon argued that “sex is real and inescapable” and called on “grown-ups” to reassure children that “it is not true that boys can be girls, or that men can be women, or vice versa”.
She concluded: “Adults who should have spoken up long before now seem to have abandoned children but there is still time to speak up. To ask for the evidence, to stand firm in the face of tantrums and denials.
“Demand answers. Do not give up. Children deserve better than this.”
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