Labour MSP Jenny Marra has come under fire from the party's own LGBT lobby over a meeting being hosted at the Scottish Parliament and a declaration of support for women's rights.
The row over the cross-party initiative mirrors the rift which has opened up within SNP ranks at Holyrood over women's sex-based protections and whether they conflict with the needs of trans people.
The group LGBT+ Labour Scotland, which is affiliated to the national party, has accused Marra, and SNP MSP Joan McAlpine of "driving prejudice" against minorities.
However Ms McAlpine warned against the 'weaponising' of hatred against public figures by activists.
The Global Women's Pledge being promoted by the meeting argues that women have the right to discuss policies which affect them, such as the proposed self identification of sex, without being abused or silenced.
It also argues for the maintaining of sex-based protections set out in the 2010 Equality Act 2010, providing for female-only spaces in hospitals, changing rooms, hostels and prisons. It also calls for the protection of single-sex sport to ensure fairness for those born as women.
However LGBT+ Labour Scotland said in a statement it was "extremely disappointed" that Marra, as a Labour MSP, is co-sponsoring the event.
Objecting to the speakers who it accused of spreading "misinformation and hatred against trans people", the statement raised particular concern that the event is scheduled for the international Trans Day of Remembrance.
"The fact that they have chosen to hold this event on International Trans Day of Remembrance is provocative and cruel. This is a day in which trans people, who are killed and murdered at a disproportionately high rate globally, are remembered and their lives celebrated," the statement says.
The speakers Dr Heather Brunskell-Evans and Dr Sheila Jeffreys have "regressive" views, LGBT+ Labour Scotland said, claiming Dr Brunskell Evans coauthored a book which "seeks to fear-monger about the 'transgender ideology'", while Dr Jeffreys is accused of describing transgenderism as a "masochistic sexual obsession".
The group is calling for the meeting to be cancelled, and for Marra and McAlpline to apologise for the "incredible hurt" it claims they have caused.
"The narrative which the organisers of this event are trying to draw, namely that there is a conflict between trans rights and women’s rights, is totally false," the statement states, adding: "It is always particularly disappointing when figures in your own party, who many look up to, choose to drive prejudice against minorities, but Scottish Labour has always been a driving force for equality ... We stand in solidarity with trans people everywhere."
The SNP has already seen splits over the issue with Ms McAlpine and other colleagues including Joanna Cherry MP insisting that unrestricted access to women's spaces for transwomen - whose birth sex was male - does in fact conflict at times with the needs of women, while others, such as MP Mhairi Black condemn such comments as 'transphobic'.
Debate over the issue has become particularly heated online. There was consternation last night after one prominent Edinburgh based trans activist appeared to threaten Marra and McAlpine online.
Cathy Brennan Tweeted: "The reason why Joan McAlpine and Jenny Marra can host on (sic) transphobe on trans day of remembrance is because transphobes know there will be no real repercussions.They have no fear. That needs to be fixed".
Asked to clarify, they went further saying: "I'm saying that you should face repercussions for your bigotry and if that isn't possible through official channels then we should take it into their own hands".Joan McAlpine said it was perfectly reasonable for women to discuss their rights. "We just cant say that women are the only people in the world who don’t have the right to define themselves and discuss their position, given the levels of violence, discrimination and pverty weom are subjected to because of their sex," she said.
She said it was clear that a "large and growing" number of women are concerned about the implications of redefining women as a sex. "People who identify as trans have rights in law for their protection and we absolutely support that," she said. "But women also have rights in law and when we are in a process of consultation round these matters parliament is abolutely an appropriate place to discuss them."
Ms McAlpine said there was nothing deliberate about the timing of the meeting, which had been dictated by the availability of speakers. Meanwhile she condemned the 'weaponising of hatred' against individuals. "People need to be really careful. I understand people feel passionately about these issues. But carpreting people in public life is outrageous," she said.
Jenny Marra was approached for comment but was not available.
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