Harvie: LGBT Scottish Government workers living in fear of segregation
LGBT Scottish Government workers are “living in fear” they could be subject to “segregation”, Patrick Harvie has said.
The Scottish Greens co-leader said the political landscape had “betrayed” the community.
During FMQs, Mr Harvie, who is bisexual, brought up a decision by Glasgow Pride to ban political parties from attending its marches.
“This is something that never even happened at the worst days of political homophobia in the 80s and 90s,” he said, “and it is a direct result of political attacks on the rights of LGBTQ people, especially transphobia.
“Does the First Minister acknowledge that the political landscape as a whole has betrayed the trust of our community?
“Does he understand there are Scottish Government employees currently living in fear that their workplaces will be subject to segregation policies, as has already happened in Parliament, and what does the First Minister intend to do to begin restoring the trust that has been lost?”
Glasgow Pride announced the ban earlier this week, following similar measures from Pride groups across the UK.
That came after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman under the Equality Act is based on biological sex.
An update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued afterwards stated that in workplaces which are open to the public, trans people should not be permitted to use facilities which correspond with their identified gender.
It also said that in places such as hospitals, restaurants and shops, “trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities”.
In response, Holyrood bosses announced last week that trans women would no longer be allowed to use women’s toilets in the Scottish Parliament building.
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) said it would install new gender neutral toilets which would be open to everyone.
Amid the measures, the First Minister has vowed to protect the rights of all people.
Responding to Mr Harvie on Thursday, he said: “I recognise and sympathise with the point that Mr Harvie has made because, as I have said consistently since the Supreme Court judgement, I am concerned by how individuals, particularly individuals in the trans community, will be feeling as a consequence of the climate that we are in.”
The First Minister said he was “struck” that the “climate of discourse” on the issue had become “absolutely unacceptable”.
He added: “So let me from this podium make it clear that my Government, as I made clear in the programme for government announcements, is absolutely resolute in our support for the LGBTQI+ plus community, that we will take actions that will that will be aimed at protecting the rights of all, because the rights of all must be protected in our society, and that is the solemn commitment that I give to the community and that I give to Parliament today.”