LONDON –
Nicola Sturgeon is expected to step down as Scotland’s first minister after months of controversy over a law to make it easier for people to change their gender on official documents, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
Sturgeon, who has led the country’s authorized government and Scottish National Party for eight years, is expected to hold a news conference afterwards at her official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh. .
Her office declined to comment on the report.
Sturgeon’s decision surprised political observers, despite the ongoing controversy over the measure of gender recognition. She has vowed to take the UK government to court for its decision to block the law and argues that the UK Conservative government is making a “grave mistake” by vetoing the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
Hailed as a milestone by transgender rights activists, the bill would allow people aged 16 and over in Scotland to change the way their gender identity is identified by self-report, eliminating the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
The law sets Scotland apart from the rest of the UK, where a medical diagnosis is required before individuals can convert for legal purposes.
Scotland is part of the UK, but like Wales and Northern Ireland, has its own semi-autonomous government with broad powers over areas including healthcare.
