People in Dundee city centre have expressed their opinion on the age at which a person should be allowed to change their gender.
We asked people about the topic after MSP Maggie Chapman said she thinks Holyrood should ‘explore’ allowing eight-year-olds to change gender.
Ms Chapman, who represents the North East region covering Dundee to Aberdeenshire, suggested lowering the age limit as the UK Government stepped in to block controversial gender reform legislation in Scotland.
During an interview with broadcaster LBC she was challenged on whether an eight-year-old should be allowed to legally change their gender.
She replied: “Yes. I think in principle we should be exploring that.”
Most of those we spoke to in Dundee supported gender reform but felt those aged eight were “too young” to make that decision.
Austyn Drummond
Austyn Drummond, 25, from Lochee, said: “I’m not fussed, they’re not doing any harm.
“But I think eight is a bit too young, they’ve not gone through puberty yet.
“When I was eight I didn’t know what I was doing. People’s opinions change a lot at that age.
“We can’t go on what an eight-year-old said then years later they regret it and find it much more difficult to change back – people need to live their life for a bit longer before making such a big decision.
“Somewhere around 16 to 18 is probably fine to start the process but major changes should maybe even be a bit later than that, perhaps a couple of years of hormone therapy first.”
Ivan Ivanov
Ivan Ivanov, 26, from Clepington Road, Dundee, said: “If someone wants to do that then that’s their decision, we live in a free world.
“But it should be when they are older so that they don’t make a decision they regret.
“The brain isn’t full developed at that age so I think they should wait a bit longer and live their life to the fullest before making a change like that.”
Lesley Green
Lesley Green, 55, of St Mary’s, said: “Kids are too young to know what they are, no eight-year-old kens anything about life.
“I’ve got a grandson who is eight and he wouldn’t know, they shouldn’t put that pressure on bairns.
“I think when they’re 17 or 18 they might be old enough. It’s a big difference.
“They haven’t even started to live their life when they’re in primary school.”
Ann Barclay
Ann Barclay, 68, from Balumbie, said: “Eight is far too young, even 16 is too young, they could change their mind three times after that age.
“There’s so many things now, trans, non-binary, it’s all too confusing for young kids.
“We do know someone who changed their gender but she was much older, she was in her 30s, and it had taken her years to come to the decision.
“I think even in their 20s is too young.”
Helen Petrie
Helen Petrie, 68, from Lochee, said: “16 is too young to change gender. Kids change their mind on things all the time, that’s part of growing up.
“I don’t agree with the reforms they’ve made in school either.
“My grandkids have been asked how they identify – how can they know that so young?
“I think it’s putting thoughts into their minds. I don’t feel comfortable with it.”
Cardean Ross
Cardean Ross, 46, from Broughty Ferry Road, Dundee, said: “These things are never straight forward, they are always multifaceted and it’s difficult to make a snap decision without being more informed.
“I am behind the reforms – which have been blocked – but we have to draw a line somewhere [in regards to age].
“I can understand how some people might think that was too young but people grow up at all different rates.
“Some people are early developers while other people develop late. Some go through puberty at nine and others are around 13.
“There are other things to take into consideration as well.
“We need to reschedule the timetable for reform, allow one idea to bed in before thinking about another.
“The general public need time to accept it.”
Conversation