
Chapman defends trans rights after surviving Tory bid to oust her
MSPs voted by four to three against with Labour MSP Paul O'Kane backing the Tory MSP's motion.
'I am also very grateful to the many trans and non-binary people and allies who have been in touch with me over the last two weeks to tell me their stories," said Ms Chapman in a statement released after the vote.
"It's been devastating to hear about the exclusion and prejudice they or their loved ones have faced, and how worried they are for the future.
'The focus should not be on me, it should be on the outcomes of the ruling and the serious threat that is being posed to the rights of trans and non-binary people.
"I have never questioned the Court's right to make the ruling that it did. But that does not mean that I must agree with it. I don't, and I am very concerned about the impact it will have and is already having.
'Over recent years a toxic culture war has seen trans people and their loved ones being targeted and demonised by too many politicians and large parts of the media.
'I will always stand up and advocate for trans and non-binary people. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is also my job to stand up for my constituents.
'Some of my constituents are trans or non-binary. Others have trans or non-binary children, parents, siblings, friends. They deserve representation as who they are. I will not stop being a vocal trans ally.'
Even if the motion had passed, the Scottish Parliament as a whole would have had to vote on the matter before Ms Chapman could be removed.
On April 16, the UK's highest court ruled the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'.
During a subsequent transgender rights rally in Aberdeen, Ms Chapman had condemned what she called the 'bigotry, prejudice and hatred that we see coming from the Supreme Court'.
Other political leaders said these remarks were wrong, while the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates branded them 'appalling'.
The Green MSP defended her comments when speaking to journalists last week, saying 'the Supreme Court didn't speak to a single trans person'.
Ms White's motion was the first item of business when the committee met on Tuesday. It was supported by her Conservative colleague Pam Gosal.
Also on the committee are one Labour and three SNP MSPs – including convener Karen Adam, who has the casting vote in the event of a tie.
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