Scotland Hate Crime Bill - Urgent action before Monday 22 Feb 2021

[NonnyMouse1337]

The Justice Committee has published four types of free speech clauses that could be added to the Hate Crime Bill.

There is now an extremely tight consultation window for people to send in their views on these proposed amendments. The deadline is 10am on Monday 22 February.

The Committee has stressed that it will not publish any submissions that do not relate to the amendments on freedom of expression. This is because it has finished its consideration at Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Free to Disagree campaign group have provided some guidance on responding to the call for views.

I think For Women Scotland and maybe MBM policy group may also publish something soon. Will post it here when it is available.

mailchi.mp/freetodisagree/urge-msps-to-call-for-more-changes-to-hate-crime-bill-7479981

The Committee has published 4 proposed free speech clauses. Options 1 and 2 would allow 'discussion and criticism' of age, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics, and 'antipathy, dislike, ridicule and insult' against religion. Options 3 and 4 would allow 'discussion and criticism' of all the characteristics listed.

What should I say?

In your own words:

* Tell MSPs that the proposed free speech provisions are not broad enough to protect freedom of expression on sensitive LGBT issues.

* Point out that debate about contentious issues linked to religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity has to go further than mere 'discussion and criticism'.

* Suggest that scrutiny of this important aspect of the bill should be extended and, if necessary, delayed until the next parliament.

* Point out that opposing the stirring up hatred offences would not leave minority groups with less protection. The law already punishes 'threatening and abusive' behaviour and offences aggravated by prejudice are treated more seriously.

* Religion and belief is a controversial subject and people must be free to argue about it without being accused of a hate crime. The Committee must adopt the most robust version of the religious free speech clause.

* Ask why the Government proposing something weaker than the sexual orientation free speech clause in section 12 of their bill. That same wording has been in effect without controversy in England and Wales for over a decade.

* Transgender identity is a sensitive issue for both sides of the debate. Free speech here needs stronger protection than is currently proposed. The over-reaction to the very idea of a trans free speech clause just goes to prove the need for it.

@greatpurplepolkadots

Is that a good number? I have no idea how many these things usually get?

Well the earlier call for views last year resulted in nearly 2000 submissions and there was a few months time to respond. The volume was considered unprecedented I think.

So over 600 submissions when we only had about 3 days or so is pretty good effort. I know others who missed the deadline for various reasons so there would have been more.

@2Rebecca

My submission isn't listed. I did actually have a preferred option (although commented on how poor I felt all the options were for protecting women.) I get suspicious when they have spurious reasons for rejecting lots of submissions

When did you submit yours? I sent mine off around 9am so I'm assuming it will eventually show up once they get through the 175 in the backlog. It it doesn't, then I'll know it's been left out.

www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/justice-committee.aspx

If you want to read them . Link on this page. Pleased mine was published. Haven't read them as in phone and difficult to read.

Mine sent yesterday late afternoon.

Where was it someone was saying people writing directly to MPs/MSPs has a huge impact? So if they get, say, 5 letters on one subject they take notice?

I think 600 is frankly miraculous. Skimming them, but most seem to be noting the danger to free speech and the need for clear protection of civil liberties.

• and lots on religion, too. Religion and gender seem to be the two main concerns

Oh, an EXCELLENT one there from a woman whom I'll not name, but it's got me grinning. Talking about Darwin and ending on how the Enlightenment might as well never have happened.

Mine went yesterday afternoon. I asked them to keep it anonymous if that was possible

There are anonymous submissions on the list.

Only one that I can see and it's not mine

Just started watching and Lisa Nandy's language is being replicated, less heat more light 😫

argh, no tiem to watch today and am scared to

in other news, I did get quite an interesting response from one MSP. SNP, but didn't seem to be quite toeing the party line as expected ... hmm.

immutability of sexual dimorphism! Yes, come on!

twitter.com/ForwomenScot

twitter.com/mbmpolicy

twitter.com/Obsolesence

livetweeting

'You cannot draw up exhaustive lists of exceptions' - No, Humza, the fact that it is necessary to try to even do so illustrates how shite arse-backwards the law itself is. To use the legal term.

Also, entirely tangentially, the Scoddish National Party's new fashion for d-ing their ts is really irridading.

Mine was rejected for not meeting the requirements.

Which is a bit rich, seeing as how I have never written to the government before, the legal language is new to me and I could have done with a couple of days to have someone who did understand help me format it in a way that would meet the requirements.

It feels ike the odds are deliberately stacked against hearing GC voices.

I'm going to see if the scottish parliament has a version of iplayer, I'd like to see what was said.

Between this and the SNP definitions of transphobia I feel a bit snookered.

Todays meeting is here

www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/justice-committee-february-22-2021

Thank you Lucy Hunter Blackburn and Susan Smith

If you can't listen back the MBM & obsolescence twitter threads are detailed, and you don't have to be on twitter to read.

vivarium. That's shite. I wonder if there is somewhere to write to say all this stuff.

And yes, thank you

Lucy Hunter Blackburn and Susan Smith.

Also Annabelle Ewing.

Thank you so much for speaking up for women.

Did you get told it was rejected? Mine just isn't there

I emailed to ask why it wasn't there and whether there was a problem with it. The clerk replied explaining that I hadn't crossed i's and dotted t's or something. To be honest, I didn't understand the system - I'm thinking I might email Lord Phil Of Brum about it.