Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has expressed her support for women-only spaces on the basis of biological sex.
Speaking to The Herald, Kate Forbes MSP stated that, as a woman and a mother, she “unequivocally” supports single-sex spaces as “a critical part of how we protect women”.
Mrs Forbes’ remarks came amid a high-profile women’s rights employment tribunal brought by nurse Sandie Peggie against NHS Fife and medic Dr Upton.
‘Culture-war’
Mrs Peggie claims she was forced to change in front of the biologically male doctor, who used the female changing rooms as he identified as a woman. She was then suspended after raising a complaint.
First Minister John Swinney and Health Secretary Neil Gray have expressed their support for NHS Fife.
Reflecting on the case, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar observed: “If we are going to stop falling into divisive culture-war politics, and we are going to make progress as a nation, we have got to say, quite clearly, we support single-sex spaces based on biological sex”.
Gender self-ID
In 2023, the Westminster Government blocked Holyrood’s self-ID Bill, which sought to allow 16-year-olds to change their legal sex by self-declaration without a medical diagnosis and reduce the waiting time for adults from two years to just three months.
According to The Daily Telegraph, existing Scottish Government guidance still allows “trans staff” to “choose to use the facilities they feel most comfortable with”.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the Scottish Government had “made a real mess of this whole agenda” and urged it to issue new guidance on access to women’s single-sex spaces.
Lib Dems sued by party member victimised for upholding biological sex
