SNP supporters and the hate crime bill

[Ifyourefeelingsinister]

Scottish government are passing a bill tonight that will give hate crime protection to every protected characteristic - apart from sex. Yes, women apparently don't register as far as hate crimes go.

But cross dressers will be protected so that's fine - don't insult a man in a kilt even in your own home, as you could be arrested. However, every day misogyny - that's fine.

SNP supporters - are you ok with this????

Sheldon - it may not be classed as a hate crime but you could still report it - threatening behaviour.
Women should start reporting every single incident, every single time. The police will have to record all of them somewhere.

Already 101’d. Hoodies and masks.

Not the greatest for identification unfortunately.

Which these lads know. And it makes them mouthy and brave.

Given the groups of youths loitering every night, I don’t hold out much hope of that little specimen being singled out.

Oh, @SheldonesqueIsUnwell that’s horrible 💐

It is horrible and it shouldn’t happen and it bothers me that it isn’t treated like a hate crime as it certainly felt like one.

He wouldn’t have said it to a bloke which means he felt he was ok to threaten me because I am a woman. And so it feels like a hate crime to me because I am what I am and was threatened because of it.

Too simplistic probably.

That is horrible Sheldon. Have you heard back from the police yet?

Late to this thread but I am totally on board with everything JKR said. Of course we all want to live in a country where people aren't assaulted or abused for who they are or how they dress. Every single person should be free to live as they choose and express their identity - fine.

But that doesn't mean accepting that transwomen are women. They're not. They're transwomen. Transwomen who deserve protection under law. But the SNP have gone too far.

Not yet.

I don’t expect anything to happen.

Too many young lads in dark hoodies with masks on all happy to claim ‘it wisnae me’ I would think. Short of wearing a go pro or similar, it is my word over a group of neds.

I wouldn’t be able to tell who it was if they put him in front of me either I suppose.

But I’m cross I’m giving this headspace this morning. It has bothered me.

I am clearly on the second half of my century and he felt that was ok to say to someone old enough to be his nan.

It is depressing.

Not that he should be saying it to anyone of course.

It would really bother me too @SheldonesqueIsUnwell and I’m a fairly sanguine old woman. Better to process it anyway, a very distressing experience

Aye. Mebbes you are right.

I’ve been through a lot worse so this shouldnt be a bother (to me) in the big scheme of things.

I can’t explain why it is sitting heavy.

I have the luxury of work today so that will stop me overthinking it.

Thank you though 🌻

I'm not surprised you're shaken that's a horrible thing to have happened

I actually do wonder whether treating forms of protected characteristics, other than sex, as aggravated offences, is increasing harassment, etc of women. Because all the racists, disablists, etc pile onto women, safe in the knowledge that it will mostly be ignored, because its not a an aggravated crime.

We all know that sex has been missed out of the Hate Crime bill because its a vote loser to criminalise sexist. Its part of the culture in parts of Scottish society to be misogynistic.

Just one stupid minor incident to illustrate it. I was (pre covid) waiting in a queue to pay for a swim at my local leisure centre. Just as I reached the front, a man swooped in front of me and with a grin, said to us all, "you won't mind me nippining in front, I'm in a hurry". I did mind and said so. Woman behind the counter said "oh, it's fine". I said "no, it's not". He said "it's a man's world" with a smirk. He got served first. No one else in the queue said anything.

We need to change the culture that this sort of thing is OK, that ignoring and sidelining women in society is fine in Scotland, in order to change the way little violent neds behave.

Missing out women and sex from the hate crime bill sends a clear signal to all the women haters - it's OK to abuse women, or at least youre more likely than not to get away with it.

Absolutely agree Greenland. Best illustration off the top of my head would be the tightrope female secondary teachers have to walk to avoid causing offence while facing classrooms full of teens with a checklist. I say that as a non-teacher parent of teens.

The scenes from London show what happens when the rights of the inherently less powerful are disregarded in favour of enforcement by entitled heavy handedness.

Jesus @GreenlandTheMovie what a prick!

@UnderHisAye

Jesus *@GreenlandTheMovie* what a prick!

I know! Can you imagine if he said to a person of colour "Its a white world", how offensive that would be? Or "Its an able-bodied world?" (sorry to use such horrible examples to make my point). But excluding women from the nasty little piece of human rights challenging legislation that is the hate crime bill is sending out a clear signal that misogyny in Scotland is fine.

Just as long as you don't go too far and actually rape or sexually assault or murder someone, you'll almost certainly get away with it.

I see the Tories have said they will repeal the HCB.

Apologies - this is probably upthread, but does anyone know where to find out the voting of their MSPs? Am wanting to know how my Labour MSP voted.

I've found it - yes of course he voted for it. Right, will be looking at tactical voting in May.

I saw that too re tories and repeal - the Scottish tories have been very good recently but the bill on protesting the Westminster tories are putting up this week and the treatment of the women on Clapham Common does not look good.

I don't think anyone can look at the Tories as a serious option for women. This is the party that won't pay child benefit for a third child unless it's a product of rape, but which has been in government for a decade over which rape convictions haven't improved.

I agree about the Tories - but I am prepared to vote tactically to stop an SNP majority.

The SNP are no better. They had the powers to mitigate the rape clause but refused to so they could make political capital out of it.

Blackford now ranting against the English Bill. These people are appalling

@Graffitiqueen

The SNP are no better. They had the powers to mitigate the rape clause but refused to so they could make political capital out of it.

I'm not saying they are better but the Tories are not a better option for women overall. On this one Bill maybe, because they can see a clear vote winner in opposing it. I'm glad they did but I'd still pluck my own eyeballs out with forks before voting for them because they're dreadful in almost every other regard.

Can anyone explain why Labour voted for the Hate Crimes Bill?

Obviously it was contentious. Many Lab MSPs spoke up against the exclusion of sex as a protected characteristic and were shot down, etc. They must have known the bill would pass with SNP + Greens + LibDem. And yet it looks like they whipped to vote for it. Why not allow a free vote? Why not push for section 2 to be removed and the rest go forward? Isn't this a missed opportunity with an election coming up?