The SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC has demanded a UK Government review into “the impact of extreme trans rights activism on women’s rights”.
Ms Cherry urged justice minister Laura Farris to commission the exercise and condemn “violence and intimidation” against women in the name of trans rights.
During Justice questions in the Commons today, Ms Cherry raised a letter sent to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month by the group Sex Matters.
Its 15,000 signatories urged to take urgent action “to halt an escalating campaign of violence and intimidation against women in the name of ‘trans rights’.”
Ms Cherry, whose gender-critical views have led to her being shunned by many of her SNP colleagues, said the letter detailed the abuse suffered by those with similar views.
She said: “It details how women and, in particular, lesbians are being threatened with the loss of their livelihoods and with physical violence, shouted down and intimidated at public events, and sometimes even assaulted for insisting on their rights to freedom of belief and of expression, and for calling for sex-based protections to be upheld.”
READ MORE: Indy 'can't be worse than current situation for fishing'
The Edinburgh South West MP, who believes biological sex is immutable while gender can change, went on: “Will the Minister condemn that violence and intimidation?
“Will she urge the Prime Minister to do so as well and to commit to addressing it by commissioning a rapid review of the impact of extreme trans rights activism on women’s rights, including the rights of lesbians?
"Will she also open a call for evidence?”
Ms Farris replied: “I certainly condemn the conduct that she has described.
“Even though holding a gender critical belief is protected in law… I am aware of the polarisation and, sometimes, intimidation that surrounds this debate.”
“I have seen the letter that Sex Matters wrote to the Prime Minister, and the hon. and learned Lady should be in no doubt about how seriously this is viewed. She has asked for a rapid review, and I would like to meet her to discuss that further and any next steps.”
The letter from Sex Matters to Mr Sunak claimed “extreme trans activism constitutes a broad and sustained campaign against women who stand up for women’s rights”.
READ MORE: Shona Robison takes 'exceptionally difficult decisions' to save £680m
It cited placards at marches saying “Decapitate TERFs” (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) among others.
“We call on you, Prime Minister, to lead the fightback,” the letter said.
“We urge you to condemn the violence and intimidation against gender-critical women, to commit to addressing it and to open a call for evidence.”
15k people signed a letter by @SexMattersOrg to the PM asking for urgent action to halt the escalating campaign of violence and intimidation against women in the name of trans rights. I am pleased the minster condemned this violence and agreed to meet me to discuss this further. pic.twitter.com/YZBLxXPDNE
— Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) November 21, 2023
Among the signatories were leading figures in the gender critical movement, including the researcher Maya Forstater and author Helen Joyce.
Some signatories used pseudonyms to avoid repercussions.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel