Hate Crime Bill at Scottish parliament - Johann Lamont adding 'sex'

[ArabellaScott]

Via forwomen.scot:

'The Hate Crime Bill is back in the Justice Committee next week for its stage 2 scrutiny. Johann Lamont MSP has put down an amendment adding 'sex' to the list of protected characteristics in Part 1 of the Bill.

She's also proposed an amendment that inserts a definition of 'sex' that is consistent with the Equality Act.'

This should be interesting.

I'm very thankful for her right now.

She’s wonderful why the fuck is it all falling on her though? 51% of the Scottish population represented by ??% of Scottish parliament

Thanks so much Johann Lamont for pursuing this.

I think it's because she's about to retire, unfortunately.

Yes, she's an absolute star for doing this. Will be watching again to see how on earth they'll get out of this one. If they insist on pushing ahead with the (frankly ludicrous) Hate Crime Bill, then 'sex' has to be added.

What group of people routinely receives the most hatred and abuse in their everyday lives? Oh yes, women. I can't believe we're currently excluded from hate crime guidance/legislation. Really hope this gets through. Women should be up in arms over this, because if we all started mass reporting the crap we get everyday, it would put the whole 'trans people are bullied and oppressed' narrative into perspective.

Totally agree. I hope it gets added to the list.

I don't actually think hate crime legislation is a good thing, overall. But if they're going to apply it for males who feel they are women but not women, it actually adds an additional layer of discrimination against women and solidifies it into law. So I agree that 'sex' shoudl be added - it is absurd to exclude one of the protected characteristics and really shows up how misogyny is so prevalent it's considered acceptable.

Even if the amendment to add sex to the list of characteristics in Part 1 is rejected by the Justice Committee, I really hope they accept the amendment of the definition of sex to be consistent with the Equality Act.

The finer details of the Bill indicate that sex can be added to the list at a later time, however, it will be done by a committee with little parliamentary and public oversight and they will have the power to amend the definition of sex at their discretion. This should not be allowed to happen.

Slightly off topic but Joanna Cherry has just tweeted that "Scotgov have introduced an amendment to protect freedom of expression in respect of discussion & criticism of matters relating to transgender identity"...

twitter.com/joannaccherry/status/1354378624095432705

That's slightly encouraging, Signal. Can't believe it needs to be written down, really, but glad that it has been. This seems to me to acknowledge that genderism is a belief, and also acknowledge that one isn't compelled to agree wtih or share that belief.

As noted by a commenter on Twitter, though, this doesn't change the fact that it's unnecessary legislation that infringes on freedom of speech and I think is likely to cause massive problems.

As noted by a commenter on Twitter, though, this doesn't change the fact that it's unnecessary legislation that infringes on freedom of speech and I think is likely to cause massive problems

Totally. It's bad law there's no doubt about that.

And as someone else has said, is this just going to list all the things one can't be arrested for?

It seems to me to threaten the presumption of innocence, by creating a law that suggests all speech on a certain matter is hate and then listing exceptions, rather than just noting that expression is free, if that makes sense.

Informative thread from ForWomenScot

twitter.com/ForwomenScot/status/1354488913830809604

I was just coming to post that too Ova it’s a great thread.
My thanks as always to the fearsome women of FWS

Has Liam Kerr withdrawn that 2nd amendment?

Humza Yousaf is getting a kicking on Twitter, and all the hardworking young TRAs are leaving the party, apparently:

twitter.com/HumzaYousaf/status/1354479698655502345

And they got their own special message from our dear leader

Why do you think LK has withdrawn his amendment Arabella? I bloody hope not

Murmurs on Twitter.

twitter.com/ECTScotland/status/1354462022625325058

Honestly, no idea how much to trust 'some people on Twitter', but this is alleged to be the amended amendment.

It's all getting a bit silly out there, time for bed.

Thanks Arabella not sure the amendment has gone the way they wanted!

Twitter

The Tory MSP hasn't withdrawn his amendment. It's been reworded, I think. His is the better amendment (better than the one by the Minister Yousaf). Hope it passes. He is getting a load of flak on Twitter about it from the usual suspects. They're...kinda proving his point.

Do send Liam Kerr an email thanking him for his amendment, if you'd like. It will be good for him to know there's support amidst all the batshit stuff on Twitter. His amendment really is a much better one compared to what was put forward by Humza Yousaf.

Rhiannon spears is a manipulative liar , some of the names on that list she posted left because johan lamont successfully had the forensic medical bill amended to say sex not gender and they flounced , due to the "transphobic" rape victims wanting a say in the sex of the person examining them.
mridhul left for the greens shortly after , of course was nothing to do with them being called out for running on an aws even though they dont have a grc and lying to get a job in a rape crisis centre .

Thanks for the nudge Nonny email sent.

yesthey with bells on