Give women a voice

On Saturday I attended a Women’s Conference, it was enlightening, informative and thought provoking.

Let me begin by explaining that this meeting was called by a party who is only two weeks old, and was attended by excellent speakers and candidates who hold or have held positions in their career that have given them great insight into the issues that women experience in their day to day lives. One of these speakers was Rhona Hotchkiss, an ex prison chief, who expressed great concern about transwomen being housed in women’s prisons. Aside for the obvious discomfort for the other prisoners in showers , and toilet facilities, the risk factor for the inmates safety increases. The women in these prisons are often there as a result of domestic abuse and are vulnerable. Their abusers are mostly men, so to house a male bodied prisoner who identifies as a women is incredibly ill thought out. In the reverse situation a women identifying as a man (ie a transman) is not housed in a male prison, because the risk factor is deemed too high. Additionally , a women’s prison is served by women’s officers who could be placed in an untenable situation to strip search a full male bodied transwomen. It is very clear from these two examples, that whilst we live in different times and everyone should be the best version of themselves that they can, dress how they please and love who they please, there are areas that need full and proper debate to ensure safety and rights of others are not erased. Over the past two years or more women have been subjected to abuse, threats and risk to their employment, for stating the biological fact, there are only two sexes- male and female- everything else is simply an identity you choose to live by. Recently, during the height of the pandemic the definition of the word women on Public Boards was changed to include transgender people by Scottish Government; this was challenged by an excellent group For Women. The challenge failed but I believe an appeal is being put forward.

The latest abomination was the Hate Crime Bill pushed through, despite efforts of very brave women to include an amendment that would give protection to women’s sex based rights- it was voted down. If the Gender Recognition Act is approved this will mean in just three months,

with no need for any counselling, medical intervention or philological assessment, a man using nothing more than a utility bill can legally change their sex. No checks, no balances. We are not transphobic CIS, Terfs, womxn, menstruators, chest feeders or birthers. Saturday’s conference reassured me there are candidates out there that will put women front and centre of their campaign.

That party with some incredible, formidable women deserves our vote. Vote Alba on May 6.

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