Don't wish to derail any (happening right now) threads about how to address the hate legislatin. And I may be barking up the wrong tree. But I hear mention that Scottish women will get their protection further down the road (as a way of derailing criticism of the Act coming into force now and not including sex). 'Organised online hate' is specifically mentioned as being addressed in the legislation being drafted now.
I am interested that Helena Kennedy KC (who is leading on on the new bill) has in the past said that trans women and girls are female. So should I assume that the new act (due 2026?) that she is leading on will offer the same protections for transwomen that it does for biological women. (It will be interesting in seeing whether it protects transmen too ...)
If this is the case then will transwomen/girls become the only at risk group who have double protection - via the Hate Act legislation now coming into force (which protects for gender identity) AND in the upcoming misogny bill. Race and Religion, Age and Sex Orientation will have one bill to call on, but transwomen could be able to make claims under two separate types of legislation. Is that a problem? Its a signal that they are the most maginalised which could be a problem, as I am not sure at all that this claim is evidenced.
I totally agree that those with trans identities should be protected, but my concern is that women and girls are not only NOT covered by the Hate Act, but when the misogyny bill appears this may not be about sex-based abuse (in a biological sense) but about gender-based abuse. I can't see how it can be otherwise. As many women think they are women (a sex category with no gender identifier required) how will that work?
EDIT: This may have already been raised (sure it must have been but cannot find). In which case apologies please redirect.