The SNP are at it again

[DdraigGoch]

They're rolling out a new bus pass for U22s. Naturally they want to know if the recipient is 'non-binary'.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10434835/SNP-quizzes-teens-sexuality-gender-identity-applying-bus-pass.html

Oh yikes.
Why are kids being asked for that information, who will hold it, who could access it, and how could it be used in the future?

Oh, Inebriati, one of the reasons I've held off applying is because you need to send passport/birth cert details.

That is the most pissed-off photo of Nicola Sturgeon I've ever seen.

'Commenting on the bus pass survey, Dr Stuart Waiton, a sociology lecturer at Abertay University in Dundee, said there was currently 'a strange, almost fetish-like concern' with LGBT issues within government.'

Times today:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ba9cdfc4-7d61-11ec-89e2-46a7a39080ac?shareToken=bf10385a7d67a8a76850bd6e159307f9

Are they asking if racism impacts on bus use? Or how public transport is meeting the needs of young people with disabilities?

Will those questionnaires go out separately, or is this something that has already happened?

Its a bus pass..age name adress and contact number is sufficient surely.

Unless there's gonna be a gay section on the bus ?

It is daft and unnecessary to ask such personal info like sexuality but I do like the scheme.

@Whatwouldscullydo

Its a bus pass..age name adress and contact number is sufficient surely.

Unless there's gonna be a gay section on the bus ?

I know it's not really a laughing matter but this gave me a much needed chuckle this morning.

Does it really involve sending the passports away?

I suppose it's a similar tactic to asking people if they identify as British or Scottish before they get their booster

Rainbow bus going one way to the gender clinic.

The Scottish government is basically a creepy, inappropriate uncle at this point

@Igneococcus

Does it really involve sending the passports away?

I think a scan of the passport/birth cert - I haven't looked into it that closely as I thought it was a gross invasion of privacy for the sake of free bus travel.

@Deliriumoftheendless

Are they asking if racism impacts on bus use? Or how public transport is meeting the needs of young people with disabilities?

Will those questionnaires go out separately, or is this something that has already happened?

Good question. The latter is probably far more pertinent. And given how bus journeys were for me as a girl/young person, 'sex' would possibly be another demographic to consider.

If you consider which characteristics are more visible, and which are ones you can't actually see, and are therefore probably going to logically be less of an issue, surely sexuality is way down the list?

Could be they ask about all of the protected characteristics, IDK.

Surely disability is the key characteristic to focus on when looking at public transport use.

Yes, it's just not terribly interesting as a protected characteristic, Beowulfa. Doesn't even have a flag!

Our council has asked us to hold off on applying unless the under 22 needs it for work. So obviously it’s another SNP scam that they can’t really fund but looked good on the manifesto. Any ones DC got their free laptop yet?

They certainly seemed to make it as difficult as possible to apply. Maybe that's the idea. They can say it was offered but the harder it is the fewer will bother.

Arabella yes, if they are surveying all protected characteristics to improve safety on bus services that would make sense (maybe not marital status?) I would still think disability needs to be about access rather than just safety- if you can’t get on the bus you can be safe or unsafe! And no other characteristic impacts in the same way.

So IF that is what this is about then good- improved public transport is a great idea (I say this as a non driver myself) but if it’s not then what’s the point?

I find the idea that uou have to show your birth certificate and give your sexuality to buy a bus pass ridiculous and sinister.
They don't need to link a persons data to their identity to get an idea of numbers or to just do something about harassment on their buses.

The Scottish Government seem weirdly obsessed by young people & their sexuality, it’s quite creepy.

'evidence showing that Scotland is lagging behind almost all other areas of the rest of the UK in key indicators of economic performance is deeply worrying.'

Just by the by.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-60090797

@Whatwouldscullydo

Its a bus pass..age name adress and contact number is sufficient surely.

Unless there's gonna be a gay section on the bus ?

@Lordamighty

The Scottish Government seem weirdly obsessed by young people & their sexuality, it’s quite creepy.

Yes, absolutely agree with you. It’s really distasteful.

What bloody relevance is someone’s sexuality to their need to take a bus?

The whole application process is an absolute nightmare...DS2 has lost his Young Scot card, so I'm having to apply for a replacement and then apply for the bus pass to be added. This involves scanning my ID, scanning my photo, uploading his photo and scanning his ID - I gave up after getting timed out looking out his passport and losing everything I'd entered. The fact they want all this plus information on his binary status is most strange - he's 14 and plans to use his bus pass to go into town, and his YS card to get discounts. His binary status is completely and utterly irrelevant - although not to the SNP/Green shambles of Govt we have here, it seems.