Protect women

I was very saddened but also pleased to see the recent article that highlights the abuse of Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon (your report, 11 March).

I started following Ms Lennon on Twitter/x after she successfully passed the period products bill, a groundbreaking piece of legislation for the well-being and equality of women and girls. She has also been a vocal advocate for buffer zones and abortion rights. Due to Ms Lennon’s intersectional feminism, she has faced a lot of abuse from transphobic men.

I am also vocal about both abortion rights and the rights of trans women to live freely and safely. If I were to quote the threats and abuse I receive from men on Twitter/x, The Scotsman would not be able to print it.

I am a resilient person, but sometimes it becomes overwhelming. I should not need a thick skin simply for advocating gender equality and rejecting the promotion of hatred. It is understandable that women who witness the threats and abuse and are discouraged from entering politics or grassroots activism.

What have senior Labour leaders done to defend women in their party? Even the most senior women in politics face targeted hate.

Regardless of people’s opinions on Nicola Sturgeon’s politics, she endured constant misogynistic abuse not because of her political views, but because she is a high-profile woman in politics.

It is high time all political parties were held accountable and obligated to protect women from abuse. Little progress can be made when it is not even safe for us to have genuine advocacy and political representation.

Gemma Clark Paisley, Renfrewshire