Green councillor (Glasgow) cleared after calling gender-critical people ‘Nazis’

[IwantToRetire]

Councillor Elaine Gallagher said “extremists” had attended a Let Women Speak rally in the centre of Glasgow and linked the crowd to the murders and attempted suicides of trans people.

In a case that hinged on the definition of the term 'Nazi', a watchdog has decided it would not be appropriate to censure the elected politician for comments made about the February 2023 event.

Gender recognition reform critic Posie Parker was a speaker at the rally, which took place in the city's George Square and attracted a counter-protest in support of LGBT rights.

Gallagher, a city bailie who represents the Southside Central district, was reported to the Standards Commission over comments made at a full meeting of Glasgow City Council.

At a hearing, the panel found she had breached the provision in the Councillors’ Code of Conduct which requires local politicians to “treat others with courtesy and respect”.

However, the panel said she had “enhanced protection of freedom of expression as a politician commenting on a matter of public interest”.
The watchdog said it could not justify any restrictions on this right due to the circumstances of the case and a formal finding of a breach of the code of conduct could not be made.

Dr Lezley Stewart, chair of the hearing panel, said: “The panel found that, in her speech, Cllr Gallagher stated that some of those attending a rally in respect of women’s rights were Nazis and, as such, inferred that they had extreme far right views and subscribed to an ideology based on ideas of racial, social and biological purity.”

Article continues at https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,green-councillor-cleared-after-calling-trans-critics-nazis

It's the word "factual" that makes a nonsense of this finding. They might have got away with "sufficient basis" because that is vague and could cover impressions, suggestions, etc.

KJK is anti-trans, same as the Nazis.

The Media Council and Broadcasting Standards Authority of NZ are in agreement. They ruled it was accurate for the media to describe KJK as an anti-trans rights activist, and to say she has the support of Nazis.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/nz-media-cleared-in-posie-parker-coverage/ar-AA1gySDr

New Zealand. Right.

Even if she doesn't specifically invite Nazis, it is a fact actual Nazis have attended some of her rallies

Actual Nazis? Was that back in 1936?

Are people still going with the 'they turned up to her event so that means she's just like them' trope?

Bless.

This is a clear example of how over exaggerated beliefs (eg the one about suicides) then get repeated so often, they are then presented as facts.

So a Green Councillor has taken as fact that any rally about women's sex based rights is anti trans and therefore has nazis attending.

But what is so extraordinary that anyone can come on a thread (and they never stop) thinking they can repeat this total fabrication and women who are gender critical, and some have been to LWS events, now it to be absolute bollocks.

But to get back to the issue, and not let derailers derail.

What the investigation found was just illogical.

I cannot think of any other set of circumstances where a firmly held inaccurate belief then entitled you to insult someone.

Not had time, but would be interested to find who this committee is, and what its remit is, and if there is a complaints procedure.

Because whilst wanting, enjoying ridiculing those who took part, if this is now the standard in local Government, we really are reaching a new low.

I think this must be them but cant find any report of this case, so not able to read full judgement.

The Standards Commission for Scotland

Welcome to the website of the Standards Commission for Scotland. We are an independent public body, responsible for encouraging high standards of behaviour by councillors and those appointed to boards of devolved public bodies.

The role of the Standards Commission is to:

• Encourage high ethical standards in public life; including the promotion and enforcement of the Codes of Conduct and to issue guidance to councils and devolved public bodies.
• Adjudicate on alleged breaches of the Codes of Conduct, and where a breach is found, to apply a sanction.

We cover:

• Scottish Local Authorities
• National and Regional Public Bodies
• National Health Service Boards
• Health & Social Care Integration Joint Boards
• Further Education Colleges
• Regional Transport Partnerships

https://www.standardscommissionscotland.org.uk/

These 2 articles have some additional information though to my mind doesn't change the stupidity of the decision.

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/glasgow-councillor-cleared-after-complaints-over-comments-on-george-square-rally

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-councillor-cleared-after-probe-29637202

Does this come as a surprise to you? Yes, people who believe in and follow Nazi ideology still exist.

Here's another, a Nazi who was caught with CP. Interestingly, he would protest against drag-queen story events and accuse them of being p.dos

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/neo-nazi-who-targeted-drag-queen-story-hours-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography/ar-BB1nodag

side-note- that's what "neo" means in "neo-Nazi". To distinguish modern followers of Nazi ideology from the WW2 era.

It's almost like it's saying that because they're a transgender woman, they merit further latitude in their public pronouncements than an 'ordinary' woman (or, indeed, man) would receive.

It's exactly what they're saying. Just like the "it's not rape if the woman comes from a more powerful social group than the man" reasoning. It's outrageous.

side-note- that's what "neo" means in "neo-Nazi". To distinguish modern followers of Nazi ideology from the WW2 era.

Perhaps you'd better use that term then. They aren't "actual Nazis" because that was a historical movement that no longer exists.

KJK isn't a Nazi, doesn't like Nazis, doesn't want them at her rallies, has told them they're not welcome. Why do people keep repeating the utter rubbish that she's in any way Nazi adjacent?

It's absolutely desperate. And I don't care what a bunch of Kiwi ideological zealots have to say about it, they are also propagating untruths about her.

Using his accusations about DQSH as cover? That type of behaviour has never happened anywhere, has it?

He's not one of us, he's just a bloke who inserted himself somewhere he doesn't belong. What he thinks/says is not our responsibility. Are you really saying you believe that women who are critical of gender as the tool of oppression of women are hand in glove with Nazis, who believe women should be circumscribed by feminine gender roles?

Far right activists know there is a working class - socialists know there is a working class. Perhaps socialists should be worried about their association with the far right.

Edited for grammar.

"some of us are thinking", some of you need to think hard and better, because if this is an example of your thinking your clearly not doing it right... try better.

I’m so sorry, but the idea of some time-travelling Nazis rocking up at LWS event has really tickled me - they’d be so utterly horrified by it all.

On a related note this is by far the best article out there about The Actual Nazis & their treatment of trans people. I admit I have a soft spot for Past & Present as a Journal (& who doesn’t love an Open Access article?!) but this is a brilliant illustration of the incoherency of the Nazi treatment of the trans population.

She does not invite Nazis. And she is not anti-trans. She is pro-women's rights and for the continuation of sex-segregated spaces for changing rooms and public lavatories, sports, prizes, refuges, hospital wards and so forth as well as supporting the right of women in care and disabled women to have their intimate care carried out by a woman (not a man in a frock). She also supports the right of women prisoners not to be forced to share their prison, and even their cell with a man, however he identifies. You cannot identify into womanhood - and being a woman is not a costume, make-up, flicking your hair etc.
It is not KJK or any of the women who support these rights who are hitting people, shouting people down, threatening people (women) with rape and death. That is the trans allies.

👏

Well. good on her. I am also anti-trans rights when what they mean is invading women's spaces, sports, prizes, prisons, intimate care, lavatories and changing rooms, because doing that is not a right, it is asking for a privilege. Damn right I am against trans privilege.
I give not a toss that men dress up in minis and put on inappropriate make-up, but stay out of my spaces and away from my grand-daughters.

Pretty sure Gallagher was amongst the protesters shouting abuse at women going to FILIA in Glasgow last year.

It's more than a little perturbing to know that an elected councillor in my city appears to be such a hate filled and badly informed misogynist.

Gallagher was indeed shouting at women going into the Filia concert. It was and is a disgraceful way for a councillor to behave. Women's rights are not hateful. Gallagher is the hateful one.

Oh yes, Gallagher thinks defining women as adult humans of the female sex is transphobic & wants FILIA to include males. I mean, no matter that that would exclude many women, centring males is paramount.

Gallagher also seems to believe humans can change sex & thus doesn’t understand that feminists are absolutely concerned about MVAWG - & said M includes TW: they aren’t being singled out for being trans, they’re receiving the same treatment as the rest of their sex. The fact they wish to be treated as members of the opposite sex is immaterial.

Gallagher thinks being photographed protesting FILIA is “intimidation” - ditto people shouting back at the protestors. The literal sound system & hulking great male humans [of assorted gender identities] roaring at women as they were on their way into the venue? Just grand. (As for the article author’s take on what happened with the venue…)