#SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson

[coochiequeens]

Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton told the crowd that the case of double rapist Isla Bryson, who was a man known as Adam Graham at the time of the offences, exposed "major flaws" in current policy.” She spoke the truth

Campaigners have gathered outside Holyrood to protest against transgender criminals in female prisons. Women's rights campaigners with For Women Scotland joined with reform group Keep Prisons Safe and chanted "shame" at the decision to place prisoners who have self-identified as female in Cornton Vale, Scotland's only all-female jail. 

The group said urgent questions must be answered on how the Scottish Prison Service, which assesses transgender allocation based on "risk", deemed the placements suitable. Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton told the crowd that the case of double rapist Isla Bryson, who was a man known as Adam Graham at the time of the offences, exposed "major flaws" in current policy. 

The rally, attended by SNP MSPs Michelle Thomson, Ash Regan and Kenneth Gibson and a handful of Conservative politicians, followed public outcry after Bryson was housed in segregation at Cornton Vale before being moved to the men's estate to await sentencing.

Following the case, a Scottish Government pause on the housing of trans prisoners with a history of violence against women in the female estate was put in place. Ms Hamilton, who warned of the potential consequences of self-ID during the Holyrood debate last year on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act, said: "It is absolutely clear that the case of Adam Graham, who now identifies as Isla Bryson, highlights the major flaws in the current policy. 

"Whilst this Government has tried to wash their hands of responsibility, I want to make it clear that whatever they say, it is undeniably clear that this Government has ministerial oversight of the Scottish Prison Service. It is absurd and offensive that a double rapist was sent to Cornton Vale. It is because of a flawed policy."

For Women Scotland co-director Susan Smith accused the Scottish Government of "abdicating responsibility" as she urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to get her "head out of the clouds". The gender-critical campaigner said: "I think Nicola Sturgeon intervened in the case of Isla Bryson out of pure embarrassment because it exposed the idiocy, frankly, of these kinds of policies.

[ukrfeminism]

1 minute read

People in Scotland who want to legally change their gender will be able to do so more easily and from an earlier age, after the plans were approved by MSPs despite an SNP rebellion.

The age at which people can apply to change their gender will be lowered from 18 to 16, with the length of time they must live in their new gender cut from two years to six months.

People who want to change gender will also no longer have to obtain a formal medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to do so.

Seven SNP MSPs voted against the plan and two abstained, in what was the biggest rebellion since the party came to power at Holyrood more than 15 years ago.

The rebels included Ash Regan, who resigned as a Scottish Government minister hours before the debate began, saying her “conscience” would not allow her to support the reforms.

In doing so, she became the first SNP minister to resign over government policy since the party came to power in 2007.

Other SNP rebels included former minister Fergus Ewing as well as Ruth Maguire, Kenneth Gibson, Stephanie Callaghan, Michelle Thomson and John Mason.

Only two Conservatives backed the plans after being given a free vote, but Labour, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats all voted in favour. The general principles of the legislation were approved by 88 votes to 33.

By pushing ahead with the plans Scotland will become the first part of the UK to amend the Gender Recognition Act, which has been in place for almost 20 years.

The Bill will also require applicants to make a legally binding declaration that they intend to live permanently in their acquired gender, with the falsifying of this statement becoming a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in jail.

Some campaigners have raised fears that it could erode women’s rights and lead to some people changing gender and later regretting it.

Trans rights groups welcomed the outcome of the vote, saying the changes would improve the “difficult” and “demeaning” process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate.

Vic Valentine, the manager of Scottish Trans, said: “The process that trans men and women must currently use to update the sex recorded on their birth certificate has far too many barriers, meaning that at important moments in their lives when their birth certificate is needed, such as when registering to marry or starting college or a new job, they have to show a document that does not reflect who they are, how they live their life, or their other identity documents.”

Speaking during the debate, Mr Mason said the Bill risked blurring the distinction between men and women, adding that if this happened, “then almost inevitably it becomes more difficult to ensure that women are paid equally or equally represented in Parliament or elsewhere”.

“And it becomes more difficult to ensure that women have access to safe spaces, including prisons, where they can be reasonably certain that no man will be present.” 