TRANS WARS II
SNP’s crusade to make it easier for people to change gender branded misogynistic and undemocratic by 92 of its own MPs, MSPs and members
A POWERFUL group of Nationalist MSPs and MPs have branded their own Government ‘misogynistic’ and ‘undemocratic’ over plans to make it easier to switch gender.
SNP Ministers want to alter the law so that transgender people can legally change gender by ‘selfidentifying’ as a man or a woman, without a need for medical checks.
The policy has been backed by Nicola Sturgeon – with party sources claiming she is one of the driving forces behind the change.
But in a backlash that threatens to tear the SNP apart, 92 MSPs, MPs and members have issued a stinging rebuke to the proposals.
A letter seen by The Scottish Mail on Sunday from the SNP Women’s Pledge – a group led by figures including Joanna Cherry, QC, and MSP Joan McAlpine – highlights concerns about the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Responding to a consultation, they claim the reforms are ‘open to abuse by predatory men’ and fear rapists, sex offenders and domestic abusers would be legally able to
‘The attempt to shut down debate must stop’
access women-only spaces. The group said: ‘We are concerned that organisations which do not respect women’s rights to single-sex spaces have such undue influence on the development of policy which has such an impact on women’s rights.
‘We fear the public funds and access given to groups favouring sex self-identification is undemocratic and unfair and risks making the outcome of the consultation on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill unbalanced.’
Organisations including the Equality Network, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland and the Scottish Trans Alliance – which they say collectively receive £2.5 million a year in public funding – were mentioned among those they believe wield undue influence.
The response from the SNP Women’s Pledge adds: ‘The attempt to shut down debate by demonising female MSPs and MPs has been frightening and misogynistic and has to stop.’
The SNP members also say the change will ‘significantly increase’ the numbers of people seeking to change legal gender – and claim the SNP is ‘side-stepping democracy’ to push the Bill through.
The group alleges giving millions of pounds worth of public funding to transgender organisations is giving them ‘undue influence on the development of policy’.
The members also claim that the Government’s consultation paper is ‘not honest’ about the significance of the proposed change.
The broadside is the first public action taken by the SNP Women’s Pledge since its launch in October.
It also highlights the deepening rift within the SNP’s ranks.
Last year, Ms McAlpine told this newspaper the proposed change to the Gender Recognition Act would enshrine in law ‘the process of pick your own sex’ and warned women would be left unable to challenge the presence of ‘a male with a beard’ in a woman-only space.
Under the Gender Recognition Act of 2004, people wanting to become a man or a woman need medical evidence that they are distressed by the sex with which they were born.
They must show they have lived as a man or a woman for at least two years and must formally declare that they intend to live in their new gender for life.
New plans would scrap the need for medical checks and lower the minimum age of applicants from 18 to 16. Transgender people would have to have lived in their ‘acquired gender’ for only six months.
The consultation on the proposed changes closes on March 17.
The SNP Women’s Pledge response warns the law would broaden the definition of transgender to include anyone who declares themselves the opposite gender and ‘allow men with criminal convictions for crimes like rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse to legally become women without any ability to block their application’.
Advocates for the law change say it would afford transgender people more dignity when they transition and simplify existing processes. But the SNP Women’s Pledge says it will increase the numbers of people seeking to change their legal sex. The Government’s own estimates in 2017 said the number of people looking to change gender could rise from 30 a year to 400.
Despite reassurances the Bill will not compromise women’s rights under the Equality Act 2010, the group is not convinced.
Its response states: ‘Glasgow and Lothian health boards say they cannot guarantee a biologically female healthcare worker to women who request one, because this could compromise the legal rights to privacy of transwomen employees.’
The group also accuses their party of having no mandate to pursue the legislation because ‘most party members were unaware of what was proposed’ in the SNP’s manifesto for the Scottish elections in 2016. It ‘carried just a single sentence’ on gender recognition law reforms with ‘no indication in the manifesto of what this meant’.
The Scottish Government said: ‘The draft Bill reforming the process for obtaining legal gender recognition follows international best practice in other countries.
‘Women’s rights and protections will be as strong under this Bill as they are today. We remain committed to protect, respect, and advance the rights of women and girls.
‘The proposals do not change the Equality Act or the exceptions within it that protect women’s single-sex spaces and services.
‘A previous consultation on reform showed a majority in support of our proposals but also some concerns. We hope the consultation will clearly explain the need for reform and address those concerns. We will carefully consider all responses to the consultation.’
‘Women’s rights will be as strong under this Bill’
TWO of the most powerful figures in the SNP will go head to head in a bid to enter Holyrood next year.
Joanna Cherry has joined former deputy leader Angus Robertson in announcing that she wants to stand in
Edinburgh Central next year.
The seat currently held by Ruth Davidson, who plans to stand down, is a top SNP target.
Miss Cherry tweeted: ‘After consulting with Edinburgh Central SNP and Edinburgh South West activists, I’ve decided to accede to their request to seek the candidacy in 2021. I’ll do so when nominations open in April.’
Miss Cherry, who made her name spearheading successful legal battles with the UK Government, is close to former First Minister Alex Salmond, while Mr Robertson is seen as a key ally of Ms Sturgeon.
Miss Cherry has not said whether she will relinquish her Edinburgh South West seat at Westminster if elected.
Mr Robertson, who lost his Moray MP seat in 2017, has said: ‘Edinburgh Central needs an MSP that has a full-time commitment to their constituents and constituency.’