Bubbling row in Scotland: This is to do with whether raped women can chose a female forensic medical examiner. The proposed legislation says only that she can choose a person of the same gender. A person of the same gender could be a person of the opposite sex, ie male. https://twitter.com/rapecrisisscot/status/1336353870579191811

The row is because that could mean a rape victim being unable to refuse being examined by a male if she wants to progress the crime report.

It applies to both sexes: male victims are affected in the same way.

An amendment to the legislation has been suggested.

The amendment says that the word ‘gender’ should be replaced in the legislation by the word ‘sex’. I believe it’s one of the shortest amendments ever proposed.

The Scottish government has declined the suggestion so now there is an effort to get MSPs to support the amendment.

The Bill is otherwise said to be a really excellent piece of legislation. It has all round support, with this use of the word ‘gender’ the only major sticking point.

The issue is that ‘gender’ has no clear and agreed meaning. It means different things to different people.

Sometimes it even means different things to the same people: and sometimes it means different things when used twice in a single sentence.

One of the meanings is the opposite to the meaning of the word sex, which is what campaigners say is the issue here.

Rape Crisis Scotland say they don’t want the legislation to be risked by the ongoing row.

The Forensic Medical Services Bill will be considered by the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.

At the top of the thread I tweeted a column with one view, of the issue. To read the other view, in favour of the amendment, go here https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/transgender-debate-msps-must-stand-womens-sex-based-rights-key-vote-bill-help-rape-victims-susan-dalgety-3057640