Support for demand to look into transphobia
The Rutherglen branch of the SNP have backed calls for the party to investigate transphobia in their ranks.
Rutherglen SNP announced last week that they are supporting the Young Scots for Independence group and the Out For Independence (OFI) branch in their campaign to end conversion therapy in Scotland, and for disciplinary action to be taken against any party member who has made transphobic remarks.
OFI has also called for the party whip to be removed from MP Joanna Cherry, who has caused controversy with a string of remarks over the past year regarding gender.
The MP recently wrote on Twitter: “And re conversion therapy, which any right thinking person should oppose, we must not make it a criminal offence for therapists to try to help patients with gender dysphoria to feel comfortable in their birth sex.”
Campaigners say that she undermined their efforts with her remarks, which Ms Cherry stated were to do with the inclusion of gender identity in a ban on conversion therapy.
Now the Rutherglen branch of the party has stated: “Rutherglen branch embraces the SNP policy of inclusiveness, and opposition to conversion therapy, and backs OFI and the YSI in their calls for an investigation into transphobia within the party.”
Transgender rights have proved a contentious issue with the SNP over the past two years, with some senior party figures opposed to plans to make it easier for people to change their legally-recognised gender.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated in January this year that she was concerned about reports of a number of transgender people leaving the party due to not feeling safe within it.
Local SNP councillors Janine Calikes and Katy Loudon were among those who re-Tweeted the local party branch’s statement, while others accused the branch of breaching party rules by supporting groups publicly calling for another member to be disciplined.
Ms Calikes told the Reformer: “I cannot imagine the trauma of having my basic human rights debated daily or the harm that having my existence questioned at every turn would do.
“I am pleased that our Rutherglen branch SNP equalities officer, Colette Boyd, brought forward a motion, which was supported by members, to release a statement affirming the branch’s opposition to conversion therapy in all its forms and calling for an investigation into transphobia within the party.
“The Rutherglen branch believes that trans rights are human rights.”
Changes to the Gender Recognition Act would see the country move to a “self-declaration model”, with applicants no longer needing to have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria – distress as a result of a difference between their biological sex and their gender identity – or having to prove that they have been living as their acquired gender for two years.
Ms Cherry has been vocal regarding her concerns over the changes, and how they would impact women.