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Scotpol urgently needs a working definition of transphobia before this horrible "debate" consumes everyone. There is so much dog whistling & coded language, it is exactly like anti-Semitism in that regard and also in that there is a huge amount of it about.
Not saying it would be easy but there are some things everyone should be able to agree are transphobic. Off the top of my head:
- Saying or implying trans identities are not real & that trans people are mentally ill.
- Saying or implying trans identities are not real & that trans people are mentally ill.
- Intentionally misgendering and dead-naming people. (Of course anyone can make a mistake but if you persist in these behaviours after being asked not to, it is intentional).
- Saying or implying trans people are likely to be sexual predators or paedophiles and a threat to women and children.
- Discussing and demanding that trans people disclose their personal medical histories particularly with regard to their genitalia.
- Discussing and demanding that trans people disclose their personal medical histories particularly with regard to their genitalia.
Any reasonable person would recognise this as transphobia. It's the lowest bar. Yet social media is awash with it. It would strongly benefit *both* sides of GRA debate to set ground rules. It would protect those falsely accused of transphobia, as well as those subjected to it.
I completely accept that there are people, and Andy Wightman may be one, who are genuinely unaware of the prevalence of trans-hate online and so interpret the response to it as being about shutting down debate. But to have a fair & decent debate we need to get rid of the hate.
Of course that also completely applies to misogynistic abuse. There is a strong argument for working definitions of misogyny, racism, homophobia etc. But transphobia is the form of hate that has escalated the most & there is already a working group on misogynistic harrassment.
This is not just a matter for my party but for every party. We cannot accept a situation where GRA reform is abandoned solely because the debate is too toxic. Set ground rules, isolate the haters & trolls - on both sides - & have the debate. This is a test for all of us.
