WHEN the government announced a consultation on changes to the Gender Recognition Act in July last year, trans people expected that by now we might be discussing the outcome.

However, proposals to streamline and demedicalise the process to change our legal gender proved more controversial than the government perhaps anticipated. Repeated delays left a vacuum that spawned polarised and often heated discussions on social media and elsewhere. 

Thankfully that wait finally came to an end on Tuesday. But while the government dithered, trade unions have not flinched in their support of trans workers. The TUC LGBT+ Conference, opening today at Congress House, promises a rich debate on the issues that concern trans people. Alongside the legal recognition of trans and non-binary identities, the agenda covers NHS gender services, the promotion of good mental health and the need to take firm action against hate crime, harassment, discrimination and bullying.