Letters: SNP politicians spell out concerns over ‘gender change’ bill
We particularly welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s view that anyone who wishes to discuss these matters should not be subject to knee jerk accusations of transphobia. We agree with the Cabinet Secretary’s view that it is important that all parliamentarians, and the wider public, can discuss questions of law, policy and practice in relation to definitions of sex and gender in good faith, and without being subject to abuse of any kind.
It has become clear that many people, including policy makers, are only now developing an understanding of the implications of the self identification of sex, particularly on women.
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Hide AdConflating sex with gender identification affects a wide range of policy and service delivery including data collection, education, health and social care, justice and sport.
New information about this topic is emerging all the time and deserves to be properly scrutinised. The Cabinet Secretary’s call for a respectful and open debate is therefore appropriate.
We should now have that debate without accusations of intolerance. We respect and uphold everyone’s human rights, particularly the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Changing the definition of male and female is a matter of profound significance. It is not something we should rush.
Joan McAlpine MSP
Kate Forbes MSP
Ash Denham MSP
Ruth Maguire MSP
Ivan McKee MSP
Kenneth Gibson MSP
Carol Monaghan MP
Angus Brendan Macneil MP
Patricia Gibson MP
Joanna Cherry MP
Cllr Chris McEleny
SNP group leader, Inverclyde Council Cllr Caroline McAllister Depute Leader, SNP group, West Dunbartonshire Council Cllr Shaun Macaulay Depute leader, SNP Group, North Ayrshire Council Cllr Lynne Anderson North Lanarkshire Council