Protecting Women's Rights is Not Transphobic: Kenny MacAskill MP (UK)

[Maduixa]

I'm posting this here not because the author is a feminist - he say right up front that he doesn't claim to be - but because the voices speaking up for women's rights in the UK HoC are few and far between and often coming from the Conservative party (no disrespect to them, but many here don't share their wider views). I thought that this short piece from Kenny MacAskill MP (ex-SNP, now Alba) might interest some people here.

Thanks

Hasn't that been one of the attractions of Alba. It allows former SNP members to say things that would have got them censored had they remained in the SNP.

A balanced article that I suspect represents the views of the majority of the population - both in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Thanks for posting

Thank you

Great that women in Scotland have a party to vote for (ironic that it's led by Alex Salmon of course - life down the rabbit-hole is a permanent wonder). Not so great that Wales has been totally abandoned by the left.

Plaid Cymru's Manifesto:
"We support the reform of the Gender Recognition Act to introduce a streamlined, demedicalised process based on self-declaration ... We will seek the devolution of powers necessary to introduce this change and will uphold trans people's right to continue to access services and facilities in accordance with their gender identity."

So goodbye single-sex spaces, services and shortlists. Thanks boys.

Not to be outdone, Labour have also committed to working for a devolution of power that will allow them to reform to GRA and bring in self-ID.

In case you'd like an extra dollop of irony, the Labour Party in Wales is also very proud of its progress towards 'a feminist Welsh Government'.

Head. Desk. Repeat.

it's something I hadn't foreseen and so worth celebrating....

Going to have huge implications for England too, as our MPs see how people respond to Alba on this in Scotland

God I hate salmon so much but it looks like he's getting my vote for the list.
I'm still waiting to hear back from 2 of the candidates in my area but so far it looks like I'll be spoiling my direct vote

Alex s though.

I mean the 'choices' are all shit.

@stumbledin

Hasn't that been one of the attractions of Alba. It allows former SNP members to say things that would have got them censored had they remained in the SNP.

Let’s hope it becomes a lever if these politicians are no longer banned from saying this stuff aloud. The more press it gets, the better. I know misogynists jump aboard the trans train with loud whoops of joy, but I still believe there are many men who still can see and fight obvious unfairness when they (eventually) see it.

I detest salmond, but he’s the only one offering any viable alternative to the SNP. The conservatives aren’t putting up any fight, and as OP says I don’t agree with their wider values. Labours basically bent over offering a free for all and as much as I admire sturgeon and everything she’s done and achieved, especially during this last year, the SNP stance on women’s rights has me jumping ship.

Anyoldprion: Let’s hope it becomes a lever if these politicians are no longer banned from saying this stuff aloud.

This is what I'm hoping. I want to see the policy on women and equalities that's supposed to be available this weekend and what comes out of the women's event on Saturday, but what I have seen and heard so far sounds balanced. If we can even just establish that no, it's NOT OK (let alone "progressive) to bully and threaten sexualised violence against women and foster a climate of rape apology no matter how much you disagree with what some women may be saying, that will be huge progress.

CabinFever10, NiceGerbil & Butterflyhoneypot - I find I’m less bothered by the thought of Salmond now that all the other parties are doing unforgivable things. But I guess it depends where you are - the individual Alba candidates are a mixed bag, some excellent and others not. However, I’m pretty sure I’d take many of them over Patrick Harvie. And I think that having a few MSPs that are allowed to talk about women and possibly even vote against misogynist policies without being silenced or censured might force the other parties to ease up a little too. Johann Lamont and Jenny Marra are both stepping down, so there’s even more of a void.

I will say for Salmond that at least he’s standing in the region where he lives and that matches the constituencies he represented as an MSP and MP rather than putting himself top of the list in whatever region looked like the best bet like the carpetbaggers in other parties. I’m kind of curious what will happen if Alba do win seats, but his is not one of them.

Olderstyle1 - my sympathies; Plaid seem to have gone completely nuts quite recently with the Mary Helen Jones/Rosa Freedman business - or maybe they always were and I just wanted to like Adam Price.

@Maduixa I may not like salmond but compared to the rest (especially sturgeon) he's the best of a bad bunch but he knows what a woman is and hasn't drunk the cool aid.
I just find it galling and ironic that the only party standing up for women and girls is being run by an alleged creepy old man but as the saying goes The enemy of my enemy is my friend.