Scotland to put tampons in male lavatories
Women’s groups oppose SNP government’s plan to add sanitary products for transgender civil servants
NICOLA STURGEON’S government is to put tampons and sanitary towels in its male lavatories in case they are needed by transgender civil servants, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The Scottish Government is “providing sanitary bins and sanitary products in gents’ lavatories in those premises where gender neutral facilities do not exist”.
In a submission to the LGBT rights group Stonewall, officials said female hygiene products would be placed in men’s lavatories “close to meeting/conference rooms and/or main entrances to premises”.
The document also described the policy, introduced in July, that made clear “some transgender men” and nonbinary people who do not identify as male or female “may also experience menopause”.
In another move aimed at helping this group of civil servants, the 209page submission said they are permitted to use the title “Mx” on the computer systems and staff directory rather than Mr, Mrs or Ms.
The submission, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, was made for the 2022 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which rates the top 500 employers on their progress towards LGBT “equality”.
The Scottish Government’s ranking fell to 127 in 2020, from 72 in 2019.
However, a number of high-profile organisations and UK Government departments have withdrawn in recent months from the group’s diversity scheme, which offers guidance on pronouns and gender-neutral facilities.
The BBC this week joined Ofcom, the Cabinet Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission in quitting the scheme and the equality index, saying its participation raised questions over impartiality on issues such as trans gender rights.
Critics claim the influence of the charity is inappropriate, due to its role as a lobbying group, a recipient of public funds to run equality projects and a body which sells advice and services.
The Scottish Government paid Stonewall £415,000 in grants between April 2017 and September this year in “equality funding”. It also paid the organisation thousands in membership fees.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that the Scottish Government had agreed to delete the word “mother” from its maternity leave policy in response to pressure from the group.
The disclosure comes amid an SNP civil war over Ms Sturgeon’s plans to allow people to legally change gender by self-declaration, without a medical diagnosis. Women’s groups have warned that predatory men could exploit the change to access safe spaces such as lavatories and changing rooms.
Trina Budge, director of campaign group For Women Scotland, said: “Once again, we note the Scottish Government is riding roughshod over existing legislation, this time the Health and Safety regulations that have existed since 1992 and state that separate rooms must be provided for men and women.
“That our government is so determined to impose their undocumented and unscientific policy of self-identification of sex on its own staff, rather than just designate some provision ‘gender neutral’, is deeply troubling.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Separate toilets are provided in all Scottish Government buildings. We ensure we provide free period products in toilets, including all female and visitor toilets, and some male toilets so that anyone can access the free products.”