‘Transphobics using women’s rights debate’
SOME opponents of gender recognition reform are using women’s rights as a “cloak of acceptability” for transphobia, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed.
But the First Minister stressed not all opponents of her Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill hold this view.
The UK Government has blocked the Bill from becoming law, citing its impact on UK-wide equalities legislation, triggering a constitutional dispute which is likely to go to court.
In an interview with Global’s The News Agents podcast, Ms Sturgeon said: “I have heard people, politicians, claiming to be defenders of women’s rights who I’d never heard defend women’s rights in the past.
“In fact, I’ve heard some support policies... that run counter to women’s rights.
“We have legislation looming later in this Parliament on criminal justice reform to try to deal with issues of low conviction rates for rape and sexual assault, we are likely to be dealing with legislation in months to come around abortion buffer zones.
“I think it will be interesting to see how many of the so-called defenders of women’s rights in the context of the trans debate suddenly don’t think that all women’s rights are actually important.
“There are some people that I think have decided to use women’s rights as a sort of cloak of acceptability to cover up what is transphobia.
She also called for “reflection” on the appointment of BBC chairman Richard Sharp.
Mr Sharp’s appointment is currently being reviewed amid revelations around his role in helping Boris Johnson secure a loan.
Asked whether Mr Sharp should resign, the SNP leader said: “I think there are probably people above him in the queue of folks in public office who should resign at the moment and a former chancellor being one of them, but I think he should be reflecting on, given what has emerged about his role or alleged role, I suppose I should say, in brokering a credit facility for a sitting prime minister, then perhaps he should reflect on him being the chairman of the BBC.”