Almost 3,000 people declare religion as ‘believer in biology’ in Scottish census

Almost 3,000 Scots have declared their religion as ‘believer in biology’, according to data published from the 2022 Scottish census. 

The 2,883 write-in responses were coordinated by the lobby group For Women Scotland to protest the census question on sex, which permitted respondents to use self-ID if they chose to.  

It was also done to protest the wider issue of the Scottish Government's plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament in December 2022 but blocked from Royal Assent when Alister Jack enacted Section 35 of the Scotland Act for the first time in the act's history.  

During the period the census was conducted, protestors used social media to share images of their protest answer on the census forms. 

In 2022, For Women Scotland warned that the decision would mean Scotland would “lose important information about the sex of our population that is vital in planning for services”. 

Among those who answered the census question “what religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to?” as ‘believer in biology’ was author and prominent feminist JK Rowling.  

Professor Sarah Pedersen, professor of communication and media at Robert Gordon University, said on X: “Just as the suffragettes did in 1911, these women used the opportunity to send a message to the government.”  

Reacting to that post, Rowling replied: “I was one of those people.”