'Get it up ye Sturgeon!' The new front in the trans war
The first guest speaker is Marion Calder, who co-founded For Women Scotland, one of the original campaign groups to raise concerns about the effects of gender identity on women's rights; it's also the group that went all the way to the Supreme Court earlier this year to establish the meaning of 'woman' and won. Ms Calder describes the joy she felt as she emerged from the court and punches the air as she relives the moment. 'Get it up ye Sturgeon!' she says, and her Glasgow audience applauds and cheers. They also think Sturgeon bears a lot of the blame for how we got here.
The second speaker, Neale Hanvey, the former SNP and Alba MP, spells it out in more detail. He describes how he first started expressing concern about trans issues and self-ID while still in the [[SNP]] and a senior party figure told him 'this is what Nicola wants so you'll just have to be quiet' (he didn't keep quiet and says the party 'came for him'). He also describes meeting Sandie Peggie, the nurse at the centre of the NHS Fife tribunal, and how distressed she was, and how it demonstrates, in his view, the way in which organisations can be captured by trans ideology and the negative implications of it.
Some of the men who've come to the conference have experienced it first-hand. I speak to a couple of academics who've been the subject of disciplinary procedures for their gender critical views, and a man who says he was reported to HR for expressing doubt about pronouns. Another describes the pile-on he faced on social media for the same thing; he was not the 'right type of gay', he says. Quite a few say they can't tell people at work what they think so operate to a kind of self-censorship; they would certainly never write their opinions down. And one man after another tells me they've lost friends because of their views.
Read more
A question for my fellow voters: what the hell is wrong with you?
Signs of trouble ahead for Glasgow's precious historic buildings
There's a price to pay for gentrification in Glasgow. I've met the people paying it
But despite all of that – because of all of that – every man here is determined to carry on and they explain to me why. They say ignoring the reality of sex and giving greater credence to gender or 'queer' identity removes meaning from the definition of homosexuality. It results, they say, in heterosexual women calling themselves men and telling gay men who reject them that they're bigots. One man tells me he was called a Nazi for complaining to the gay male app Grindr about it. Another tells me about a straight couple at his work who calls themselves queer, and why that's a problem. Neale Hanvey puts it this way: you can't protect what you can't meaningfully define.
The men who've come to the conference are also particularly worried about the consequences for young people. They worry about little boys who don't conform to the usual male stereotypes, and will probably grow up gay, being told they're really little girls. They also worry about girls and young women who don't conform to female stereotypes, and will probably grow up lesbian, coming to believe they're really men. It's disturbing, they say, that so much of gender identity is based on old, sexist stereotypes but it's also disturbing that it can have serious consequences including medical operations that are lifelong and irreversible.
But it goes much wider too. Although this is a conference for gay men, it's significant that Marion Calder is one of the speakers because everyone here knows, and is worried, about the consequences for women, their rights and security. The Peggie case comes up quite a lot, as does Isla Bryson, the male who started transitioning after being charged with rape and was remanded to a women's jail. Ms Calder says she thought the Bryson case – and the Supreme Court ruling for that matter – might be the moment when the tide turned for good, but she points out that there are still men in women's prisons. It's not over yet.
Nicola Sturgeon (Image: Newsquest)
Which brings us to another of the central questions discussed at the conference: where do we go from here? Everyone agrees there does seem to have been a shift in views, but Neale Hanvey says the resistance of the political classes and public organisations has been strong, with many still adhering to concepts such as self-ID. They will have to be challenged, he says, case by case, court by court, and the penalties will need to be severe. Ms Calder says her organisation, For Women Scotland, is currently in a back-and-forth with the Scottish civil service and there's probably going to be another judicial review. As I say: not over yet.
James Roberts, the managing director of Human Gay Male and the organiser of today's conference, tells me he believes events like his can be part of the solution, they can plant the seeds. Many of the attendees have faced problems after expressing gender-critical views, but they're also an impressively determined and well-informed bunch and they're starting conversations with friends, gay and straight, and colleagues, and people they encounter in daily life, in taxis, shops, cafes, expressing their concerns and asking questions; planting the seeds.
So it all ends on a hopeful note, even though we've talked about a lot of disturbing and contentious stuff. Ms Calder believes the public has started waking up to what's going on; the Overton Window is shifting, she says. Some of the men at the conference also tell me expressing their concerns has given permission for others to express their own concerns. So maybe this is how changes happens. Away from the multicoloured flags and banners down on the street. In a room in Glasgow, and in other rooms, where people talk, and go out and talk to others. One mind changed, then another, then another.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
43 minutes ago
- The National
SNP and Greens slam Starmer's conditional Palestine stance
The SNP and Scottish Greens have warned that recognition of Palestine must be 'irreversible' and free of political caveats. In response to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement that the UK could back Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September – conditional on an Israeli ceasefire and a commitment to a two-state solution –John Swinney made clear that such recognition must not be a bargaining chip. "Having called on the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine, I welcome the intent behind this announcement," the First Minister said. READ MORE: I'm a Scottish farmer – here's what I'm doing to help the people of Gaza "However, recognition of a Palestinian state should be irreversible. "Recognition must not be conditional and must be backed by sanctions against Israel if the violence continues." Swinney called for an immediate ceasefire and urgent access for humanitarian aid to address the catastrophic man-made famine in Gaza. He reiterated his support for a two-state solution, saying it remains the only viable path to lasting peace. "A two-state solution is the only way that the Palestinian and Israeli peoples can have a future, living side-by-side in peace and security," he said. "The Palestinian people deserve no less." His remarks came as the death toll in Gaza reportedly surpassed 60,000 – a milestone Swinney described as 'truly horrific' and 'a shame upon us all.' He demanded that Israel commit to ending the killings and comply with international investigations into war crimes and genocide. Swinney also called for the unconditional release of all hostages, noting the urgency of halting further bloodshed. The Scottish Greens echoed Swinney's condemnation of conditionality, insisting that Palestinian statehood should not be subject to Israeli cooperation. They criticised Starmer's announcement, which stated the UK could support recognition only if Israel agrees to halt its assault and engage in peace talks and only if the annexation of the West Bank ceases. The Greens, who have long supported Palestinian statehood and denounced the occupation, described the UK Government's framing as dangerous and insulting. They warned that Starmer's conditions effectively allow Israel to veto Palestinian sovereignty whilst continuing to displace, starve and murder Gazan civilians. Co-leader Patrick Harvie condemned Starmer's position, calling it 'an insult to the Palestinians' right to self-determination.' 'Recognition of Palestine is decades overdue, and should not be conditional,' Harvie said. He pointed to 'some of the worst war crimes recorded in recent history,' many of them livestreamed by perpetrators and met with silence or complicity from Western governments. Harvie said: 'Gaza has been decimated, entire generations of families have been wiped out, and the most basic universal human rights have been stripped away. READ MORE: Recognition of Palestine is 'worthless' without concrete action, expert says 'Starmer's words would carry some meaning if he immediately recognised the state of Palestine, called out the ongoing genocide, and ended UK complicity in arming and training the Israeli military.' The Greens have called on the Labour Government to recognise Palestine without delay and to stop aiding Israeli forces via weapons sales and military collaboration. They argue that Starmer's delay is a betrayal of a people 'at risk of being extinguished by genocide.' Harvie stressed that recognition must be a starting point – not an end. He said: 'Even if recognition for Palestine does come, it must be only the beginning – a moment when the international community steps in to stop the slaughter, end the occupation, and hold Israel's leaders to account for their crimes in front of the International Criminal Court.'
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Teachers 'fed up being beaten up'
My friend, who is a teacher, is drained by the intensity of daily school life, says Sue Webber (Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire) Deterioration in school discipline has been well documented with a shocking 44,600 incidents of violence and abuse in 2024 reported to Scottish councils last year. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... But it's only when you speak to the teachers themselves that you appreciate just how dreadful it must be to go into your work knowing there is a high chance that some sort of assault from a pupil is a possibility. I recently I spoke to two teachers, one a friend who works as a guidance teacher, and we discussed how it feels to reach the end of term. And while for me it's always good to get a break from the hurly-burly of politics in the Holyrood chamber, I am not exhausted. But my friend is drained by the intensity of daily school life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The other was a primary school assistant at a school in what most people would regard as a nice part of town. She had just quit because 'I got fed up being beaten up every day'. Yet, the Scottish Government's answer seems to be to carry on regardless, in denial that the removal of disruptive or violent pupils is best for everyone involved, particularly the other children. My friend was briefly a deputy head of a successful pilot programme where disruptive pupils could be given expert attention and the classmates they left behind could get on with learning in peace. The unit closed because funding was no longer available. The solutions are there, if only the SNP stopped listening to do-gooders and did the right thing. Sue Webber is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump has just shown that the EU is nothing without the UK
This moment exposes the myth of Brussels as a global trade superpower. When push came to shove, it couldn't defend its own economic interests. Key sectors, from German autos to French luxury goods, will suffer. But Ireland is especially exposed. Its economy relies heavily on US-focused pharma exports and EU protections. With both now undermined, Dublin's carefully-built model looks dangerously unstable. For years, anti-Brexiters claimed the EU was essential to Britain's success. In truth, it was the EU without Britain that was always doomed. The UK was its diplomatic spine, along with its special relationship with America, and strategic balance. Without it, the EU became over-regulated, politically paralysed, and incapable of standing up to global powers. The fallout also goes beyond the headlines. For the SNP it's a hammer blow. Leaving the UK to join a weakened EU now looks absurd. The UK is by far Scotland's largest market, accounting for over 60% of its trade. Why walk away from that to join a bloc that just accepted worse terms than Britain with the world's largest economy? This isn't just a one-off deal. It's a strategic shift. Britain has regained control of its trade policy and reaped the benefits. The EU meanwhile, has been exposed as vulnerable and reactive, no longer setting the rules, just absorbing the fallout. Ian Lakin, Aberdeen. Read more letters A dearth of political talent Sarah Vine, Michael Gove's ex-wife, was a Brexiter of the first order and makes no apologies for it ('How not to be a politician's wife, from someone who knows to her own high cost', The Herald, July 28). She describes Margaret Thatcher as a memorable and talented politician who could not understand the human collateral damage of her policies. Surely that is true of most Tory policies, which usually put profit before people – or at least us lower-than-elite classes. Obviously she and Michael have no regrets about Brexit or the home nations which were against it. There are a significant number of politicians who were elevated well beyond their capabilities, Boris Johnson being the worst, but Michael Gove and several of his colleagues had a similar lack of ability. Unfortunately the same can be said for many of the present leading MPs of all parties, hence the advance of the carpetbaggers of Reform (which bears a similar attitude to that of the late Margaret Thatcher). JB Drummond, Kilmarnock. • Apologies for my delayed reaction, but Denis Bruce's anti-Thatcher rant (Letters, July 23) merits a few words in her defence. Your correspondent goes on about public utilities, the right to buy, the miners' dispute. We are now suffering the consequences of Thatcher's vultures coming home to roost, he declares, and he is entitled to his opinion. Divisive she may have been; but as Prime Minister – and first woman in that office – she was the victor of three General Elections, and left a prouder and more stable nation in her wake than she had inherited. The Iron Lady she proved to be; "not for turning" her mantle eternal, and one which our present government might care to adopt. She remains, in my view, at the top as a peacetime leader. Brian D Henderson, Glasgow. Emotion and xenophobia John Swinney has proclaimed his new strategy for achieving independence ("Indy ref 'only secured through majority at Holyrood election'", [[The Herald]], July 29) but it has a glaring omission. Since the 1930s, the [[SNP]] has been chasing a dream to drag Scotland out of the United Kingdom. The big guns of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon failed despite the latter foolishly and embarrassingly offering a referendum in October 2023. Now Mr Swinney is back to rally the troops offering 'opportunities' to make it this time. The glaring omission: facts. Does he really expect sensible Scots to support his nationalist dream without the economic, the financial and increasingly important, defence facts, to make Scotland a successful independent country where Scots will be better off? Economic, financial and defence facts are of no importance to nationalist leaders. They would lead their followers to the promised land based on the politics of emotion and xenophobia because there is nothing else. They will of course be depending on the support of 16-year-olds and nationalist emotion will be right up the street of most of them. The once-vocal Andrew Wilson, author of a discredited White Paper, had a much-repeated saying (every time on television): 'independence will be hard but will be worth it'. The problem: neither he nor anyone else in the nationalist hierarchy could tell the people of Scotland how 'hard' it will be and how 'worth it' it will be. Nothing has changed. Douglas Cowe, Newmachar. We need a vote on borrowing June's figures for public sector borrowing came in at £20.7 billion, well above the OBR's forecast and City expectations. What's more, £16.4bn of this was accounted for by debt interest payments. Yes, that's right: £16.4bn in one month. We are borrowing vast sums to pay the interest on past borrowings of vast sums. The time has come for a national referendum on government borrowing. Doug Clark, Currie. Demographic myopia Seldom have I read a more incoherent piece than Roz Foyer's article on the need for more immigrant workers in Scotland ("Scotland needs more workers – not forcing existing ones to work longer", The Herald, July 28). I hardly know where to start. She echoes (despite being head of the STUC) the corporate employers' line regarding a Scottish visa. She must surely know it's a non-starter; the UK Government would never allow it given that those invited here could move down south and work in the black economy. She dishes up the hoary old "demographic crisis" argument, despite Scotland's population having surged of late and now being in overshoot relative to our biocapacity (Greens, please note). This is straight out of the globalists' population-transfer prescription for all states with fertility below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman (as the UK's has been since the Pill arrived many decades ago, hence our ever-increasing immigration at the behest of corporate employers and landlords). It is ultimately the demographic myopia of Ms Foyer and others which is water on the mills of Reform UK, doing very well in Scotland thank you, despite the unpopularity of the polarising Nigel Farage. George Morton, Rosyth. Former Conservative minister Michael Gove (Image: PA) Expensive halt of wind farms When Alan Simpson described planning applications from energy developers as a 'David and Goliath' experience, I wondered which one Highland Council, covering an area almost as large as Belgium, was supposed to be ("Rural Scots are right, it is time to pause onshore wind are more than enough already", [[The Herald]], July 28). But the simple fact is that onshore wind farms are much cheaper than offshore wind farms or new nuclear reactors. Pylons are much cheaper than buried cables. If we continue to build onshore wind, we can discuss how the difference in price is split between the land owners, the local community, and the consumers of the generated electricity. If we pause onshore building, will the land owners and local communities saved from having wind turbines near them make any contribution towards the higher bills faced by consumers? Presumably there is some value in it for a golf course, grouse moor or holiday cottage to have an unspoilt view, which would be reflected in its business rates valuation? Alan Ritchie, Glasgow. Which warnings are fallacious? It is very clear that Malcom Parkin (Letters, July 28) is no admirer of Ed Miliband. Many others may share Mr Parkin's concern about "targets conveniently in decades ahead", though from different perspectives. But he is also exercised about "warnings that have not come true". Presumably this refers to climatic matters, and presumably your correspondent is putting himself forward as one who has a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of such things than the majority of climatologists. Perhaps he could be indulged with an opportunity to explain exactly what such fallacious warnings consisted of, and in what ways they have not come true: specifically in relation to changes in temperature; changes in the frequency of extreme weather events; and changes in global sea level. William Patterson, East Linton.
