Gender Recognition Reform: Women’s groups call for clarity following Nicola Sturgeon comments

‘WOMEN ARE STILL WATCHING’

Statement on our letter of 22 December to Nicola Sturgeon MSP.

The text of the letter can be read here:

22 December 2024

Dear Ms Sturgeon

We are groups based in Scotland concerned about threats to women’s rights, as protected in domestic and international law. This time two years ago, many of us were sitting in the public gallery of the Scottish Parliament as MSPs voted for the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

In the run up to this, we engaged extensively and seriously with the government’s proposals to move to a system of self-declaration for gender recognition. We submitted detailed written evidence to the Scottish Government consultation. We also provided written and/or oral evidence to the parliamentary committee tasked with scrutinising the bill at Stage One.

Most of us wrote to and met with our MSPs in the months and years before the bill was introduced, and encouraged and assisted other women to do so. We undertook detailed work and analysis on the government’s proposals, highlighting the risks to women and girls. We organised meetings, street stalls and rallies with hundreds of other Scottish women, or attended those. In fact, this issue attracted some of the largest rallies that have ever been seen outside the Scottish Parliament in 25 years of devolution. Our campaigning efforts were widely covered in the Scottish press.

It was clear that getting the bill passed was a personal priority for you.

We watched as you dismissed concerns raised by women like us as ‘not valid’, comparing objectors to your proposals to racists and homophobes.

In the last week, you are reported to have said:

There are people who have muscled their way into that debate no doubt because they are transphobic but also because they want to push back rights generally.” (Diva, 16 December 2024)

There were forces that muscled into that debate who, I think, you know, had a bigger agenda in terms of rights more generally.” (The Guardian, 16 December 2024)

You are not the first politician to make such a claim. However, your prominence as Scotland’s longest serving first minister, and its first female first minister, mean that your comments carry weight. You have also intimated that you intend to write about this episode in your forthcoming autobiography.

If you believe that there are groups or individuals with an agenda to ‘push back rights generally’ who are ‘muscling in’ on Scottish politics, you have a duty to state who or what you believe they are, and how you believe they are operating in Scotland, as precisely as possible. Then, the influence of any such groups or individuals can be properly investigated and challenged, as necessary.

As it stands, regardless of your intentions, a person might reasonably believe you are referring to those groups or individuals who played a leading part in criticising the Scottish Government’s proposals.

We therefore invite you to move away from dropping broad hints of potential wide application, and to take the more responsible step of making clear who you do, and do not, mean in the comments above, and to put the evidence on which your comments are based into the public domain without delay.

Yours,


For Women Scotland
MurrayBlackburnMackenzie
Scottish Feminist Network
Scottish Lesbians
Women’s Rights Network Scotland
Women Voting With Our Feet
Women Won’t Wheesht

@ForWomenScot

@Scot_Feminists

@ScotLesbians

@VoteWithOurFeet

@WRNScotland

@WWWheesht

Community campaigners force rethink on People’s Story closure

People’s Story Museum set to reopen next month

The People’s Story Museum will reopen to the public on Monday 2 December after a temporary closure.

The Museum, which offers an insight into the lives of Edinburgh’s working-class people from the 18th to the late 20th century, has been temporarily closed due to staff shortages but will resume its regular seven-day schedule from Monday 2 December.

The Council is working on a new operating model for the Museums and Galleries service aimed at enhancing the experience for residents and visitors, increasing revenue, and focusing more on the city’s historic collections. The service has faced increased budget pressures this year, which initially led to a proposal to close the People’s Story Museum during the autumn and winter.

However, based on public feedback, officers have been working to identify funding and resource which will facilitate the reopening of the museum.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: “After initially proposing a temporary winter closure for the museum, we listened closely to the community’s passionate feedback, and I’m delighted to announce that we will reopen the museum on Monday 2 December. 

“It’s a special museum where all exhibits are inspired by the voices of Edinburgh’s own people, drawn from oral histories and written accounts to share authentic stories. The collections showcase this with items such as Friendly Society regalia, banners, and materials representing Edinburgh’s diverse communities.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back through the museum’s doors.”

JIM Slaven, who initiated the campaign to keep the museum open, said: “@SaveTPSM welcome this Council decision & thank everyone who has supported the campaign.

“The city now needs to work together to create a sustainable future for the museum. #Edinburgh needs change. This is a first step.”

“It is only a first step. For the museum to have a successful future it must be in the Tolbooth & it must be curated properly, cared for & invested in. That is going to involve a lot of work. Not just from Council staff, but from everyone who wants it to succeed. It can be done.

“On personal note. To all the real ones who trusted my judgment that this fight was worth it & was winnable, who stayed disciplined & stuck to the plan, I am constantly surprised and inspired by people’s energy and enthusiasm for the battle(s).”

Jim Slaven had criticised the Labour-led council’s proposals as a betrayal of the city’s working class. “Labour with 11 out of 63 #Edinburgh councillors have no mandate for their dodgy “buildings strategy”, which closes museums & community centres.

“Turning public spaces into private spaces. In whose interests?”

A report on the new operating model for Museums and Galleries will be brought to December’s meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee.