This placed the UK's Gender Recognition Act 2004 in the second from bottom category with "intrusive medical requirements" that lag behind international human rights standards.

[5] The procedures have also been described as costly, bureaucratic, and time-consuming for trans people, with successful applicants having to wait two years until they can change their legal gender.

[6] The issue of gender recognition is devolved in Scotland, which allows the Scottish parliament, if it wishes, to legislate for a different policy from that of England and Wales.

[4] In 2004, the Scottish Parliament passed a motion to consent to Westminster's GRA, so that a uniform system of gender recognition would be in place throughout the UK.

[14][15][8] The bill was introduced on 2 March 2022, by Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government.

[24] The Stage 1 report, from the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, recommended that the general principles be approved.

[32] On 19 December 2022, the day before the Stage 3 debate began, the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee held an evidence session on the bill.

[36][37] Madrigal-Borloz described the Scottish bill as a "significant step forward", while Alsalem said it "would potentially open the door for violent males who identify as men to abuse the process of acquiring a gender certificate and the rights that are associated with it", a view that was disputed by Madrigal-Borloz, who said it would bring Scotland in line with international human rights standards.

[46][original research] On 17 January 2023, Jack made a formal statement to the House of Commons that he was using section 35 of the Scotland Act and set out his reasons for doing so.

[50] UK Prime Minister and Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer has said he will continue the block on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.

"[61] On 10 May 2024, First Minister and SNP Leader, John Swinney formally abandoned Nicola Sturgeon's self-ID gender plans after saying they cannot be implemented.

[71] Nine SNP members voted against the bill at stage 3,[72] which was reported in Euronews as "the biggest rebellion against the government by its own party in the last 15 years".

[75] A January 2022 poll commissioned for the BBC, conducted by Savanta ComRes, found 57% of Scots supported making it easier to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate; a majority opposed reducing the age for this from 18 to 16.

[76] A 2023 YouGov poll commissioned by The Times found that two thirds of Scottish voters opposed key aspects of the bill, particularly those relating the lowering of the minimum age for applying for a GRC.

On 21 December 2022, Dr Michael Foran, a lecturer in public law at the University of Glasgow, floated the idea that the bill could be blocked as it infringed on the operation of reserved matters.

[78][79] On 23 December 2022, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that it would be "completely reasonable" for the United Kingdom government to block the bill, citing concerns for "women and children's safety".

[85][86] Alister Jack and Kemi Badenoch were invited by the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee to give evidence about their decision to block the bill; both declined to attend.

[92][93] Maggie Baska in PinkNews notes that Starmer "faced backlash from other politicians, LGBTQ+ advocates and trans people over his comments on the GRR bill".