Scottish Parliament final debate on Gender Recognition Reform today

[ArabellaScott]

At some point after 2pm, in the Big Room (the Chamber).

www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/whats-on-and-watch-live/whats-on#wm

Will be interesting to see how the Amendments go down, if they are all struck down as the ScotGov wishes - www.holyrood.com/news/view,gender-recognition-reform-crunch-vote-after-shona-robison-warns-msps-over-amendments

'the Scottish Conservatives have warned that the debate could lead to a "travesty of democracy" because a 15 minute time limit for each proposal will "shut down" discussion.'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64032916

I’m going to say that the only person looking to weaponise ND there was… Maggie chapman.
m

I'm not sure what the daggers and fury was all about. Rachel Hamilton wasn't even talking about ND at the time.

Vote:

on lowering age to 16

Yes: 37

No: 87

Amendment struck.

I wonder if this will kill the independence movement? Will the population see that legislation this badly conceived and parliamentarians this incompetent are evidence that they couldn't manage the very difficult process of becoming an independent country.

Because Maggie chapman was looking to use the figure of the ND child denies their participation rights as a weapon to shut down debate.

Irony. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Next vote - Amendment 93 - not agreed.

Just saw a vote that was 5 yes, 90something no. An amendment by Clare Baker. What was that one?

Chapman is a deranged maniac. Just last week she was cheering on the nasty little fascists who said women “had no right” to peacefully watch a legal film.

As the Scotgov asked, all the safeguarding amendments are going to be struck down. It's going through in all its utterly ludicrous glory.

Sorry to be dense. What does amendment struck mean?

Next group of amendments - Russell Findlay.

This'll be interesting.

Relating to criminals - rapists and other sex crimes.

Valancy, sorry that might not be the right term - the Amendment doesn't pass, it's been struck out of the Bill.

Russell Findlay - gross mischaracterisation to conflate transwomen with sex offenders

this is ill judged and inflammatory

these are entirely about men who will inevitably seek to exploit weaknesses in the new GRC processs

Alex Cole Hamilton - GRC is not a passport, doesn't open doors, not required to be presented - simply a piece of paper that recognises legally that your gender as you know it to be ... not a valid form of entry

Russell Findlay -not just a piece of paper, fundamentally changes society

amendments aimed at male criminals, who already lie

victims almost always women and girls.

the real threat is predatory and abusive men - agrees with Shona Robison

however, disagrees that there is no evidence a GRC would be abused

Quotes Reem Alsalem from the UN on risks

Russell Findlay is good

RF - Victor Madrigal Borloz - also UN - 'no evidence of such abuse from other countries that have adopted self ID' - NS and others are choosign to listen to VMB - is he correct?

VMB hasn't shown any evidence of a lack of evidence

Claim is naive at best, dangerously false at worst

citing Murray Blackburn Mackenzie

In most countries little or no effort to record this evidence - data has been compromised by collecting on gender identity not sex

RF's first amendment: Only someone who is NOT on the SO register could seek a GRC

Added a right to appeal this. So a SO could bring case to Sherriff

Amendment 28 - technical - ensures a SO would be required to disclose this

Amendment 22 - new - Justice Secretary had a plan to bring changes to existing regs around SO's - SO's will have to notify police if they intend to seek a GRC.

Thank you for the updates. Following with horror.

Why were SNP ministers not concerned about SO's exploiting GRC until last minute? This is a sticking plaster, not good enough.

Amendment 39 - anyone charge d with rape or sexual offence could not seek a GRC until after case has been heard.

This is primarily to prevent a female victim to have to address her rapist as a woman in court.

'It sounds absurd, ludicrious, unimaginable, but ... '

'Bail conditions can prevent travel, communications etc, stopping someone seeking a GRC in this case is less onerous'

Amendment 39 a/b/c

Pause a GRC application for anyone charged with domestic abuse or violence

• To prevent men using GRC to taunt or torment victims

Pause a GRC for anyone charged with fraud

fake identity is a tool of many a fraudster - a GRC would be a gift