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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Letting libraries crumble is attacking the vulnerable
Libraries have always been more than shelves and silence. They're vital spaces for the whole community and one of the few places where you're not expected to buy a coffee just to sit down. In today's digital world, they're a lifeline for those who can't afford broadband or don't have access to a printer. We talk about levelling up, tackling isolation, improving literacy, supporting mental health – libraries do all of that and more with far too little credit. It's not just short-sighted to let them crumble; it's attacking the vulnerable. If we're serious about building a fairer, more equal Scotland, we need to stop treating libraries like optional extras. They are – and always have been – lifelines. Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, Tayport. Read more letters Definition of a hate crime To be a hate crime in Scotland, something must first be a crime. Then, for any crime, if it is proven in court that the motive was prejudice on grounds such as race, religion or sexual orientation, the crime is recorded as a hate crime. The motive can then be taken into account by the sheriff in deciding an appropriate sentence. That's been the law for 15 years and more. Tearing down the street decorations for a parade is likely to be the crime of vandalism. In the case of the Arran Pride march ("A hate crime on Arran? No, just a sign of where we are", Mark Smith, The Herald, June 2), the fact that it was an LGBTI+ event and was targeted in that way suggests that it may in fact have been a prejudice-motivated crime. In that case it's right that the police look into that. Whether it ends up recorded as a crime, and potentially prejudice-motivated, depends on what evidence there is. Mark Smith suggests that the perpetrator may have been a gay person who doesn't like the rainbow flag. Hypothetical, dare I say imaginary, based only on his own views about trans people it seems, and frankly a great example of victim-blaming. Disliking what a flag represents suggests more than a dislike of the colours or design, it suggests disliking the inclusion of those that the flag represents – the wide and diverse LGB+ community alongside the people of colour who founded the LGBTI+ movement, those lost within the AIDS crisis and of course, trans people. It's hardly surprising that the police might consider this flag being torn down to have been motivated by prejudice and hate. The Equality Network's Scottish Trans team were at Arran Pride, and we're happy to report that despite the vandalism the night before, everyone had a really great time with locals – celebrating everyone's diversity and calling for a better Scotland for everyone. Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO, Equality Network, Edinburgh. Glasgow's transport shame I fully agree with Stuart Neville (Letters, June 3) who comments on the fact that Subway travel in Glasgow is a difficult and confusing experience if you are not familiar with all the stations on its circular route, due mainly to the lack of any visual indication of which station the train is approaching, in spite of over £28 million spent on its upgrade. As Mr Neville says there are the occasional spoken announcements, some of which are understandable and some not. I am also somewhat puzzled as to why after this lengthy and expensive revamp the service frequency is less than in the days of the previous "Clockwork Orange" system. Another obvious drawback is the fact that the service stops operating at 6pm on a Sunday, something that was previously blamed on the need for extra maintenance to keep ageing rolling stock and infrastructure working. Sadly the Subway seems to be like the rest of our city's disjointed and expensive public transport in that passengers come, by some distance, a poor second to what suits the various operators in Glasgow. The city centre is no longer the thriving and busy place it once was as retail, hospitality, theatres and music venues suffer from the lack of footfall. Surely it is obvious that easy-to-use and affordable public transport is a must to help Glasgow get back to being the city it once was. William Gold, Glasgow. A train on the revamped Glasgow Underground (Image: SPT) Educating Nigel AJ Clarence (Letters, June 2) remarks on Nigel Farage's likeness to one Joe E Brown. As one of your older readers, I have always thought Mr Farage unnervingly like 1950s ventriloquist dummy Archie Andrews, in oh so many ways. Rosemary Parker, Troon. Memories of Canada scheme In the "100 years ago" section today (The Herald, June 3) mention is made of a scheme for young boys to go to Canada. My mother's brother was sent to Canada aged 16 with £2 in his pocket in 1929 under this scheme. It was run by the British Immigration and Colonisation Association of Canada (BICA). It would be considered very controversial nowadays as its slogan was "Keep Canada British". They had an office in Bath Street, Glasgow. Boys aged 14 to 18 were recruited to work as farm hands for 10 shillings a week with full board. Boys who went out under this scheme and who saved £100 by the age of 21 would receive a loan of £100 from the Canadian Government to set up their own farm. My uncle returned to Glasgow in 1931 having completed his first three years. He returned under the scheme in late 1931. However the coldest weather on record hit East Ontario in late December 1933 and my grandmother paid for his return home. He spoke about his time in Canada often. It was not easy for many of the young farm labourers. Some were badly treated and lived in wooden shacks. There was very little supervision of essentially a fairly wild bunch of teenage lads from modest backgrounds. He was aware of one lad who had not been paid, was molested by the farmer, and stole food. Then he found himself in prison and was deported. However my relative struck lucky and was well treated. Eric Flack, Glasgow.
The National
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
UK ranked second-worst in western Europe for LGBT+ laws
Despite coming in first place in 2015, Britain has slipped further down the index every year since and is now ranked as the second worst country in western Europe and Scandinavia for LGBT+ legal protections, with a score of only 46%. Beating only Italy in the ranking, the UK fell six places this year as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding transgender people and the Labour Government's subsequent response. READ MORE: Graham Linehan pleads not guilty to harassment of transgender woman Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO of the Equality Network, said: 'It is shameful that having been ranked best in Europe for LGBT+ laws ten years ago, we have fallen so far. 'For our treatment of trans people, after the Supreme Court ruling we are now known as one of the worst countries in the whole of Europe. 'The UK must do better.' ILGA-Europe — the international human rights group behind the index rankings — noted that, while hate crime law in Scotland improved with the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, it had little effect on the UK's overall score. Don Kennedy added: 'Scotland, when analysed separately, has in the past been considered progressive and a beacon of LGBTI+ equality and human rights. 'That seems to be quickly deteriorating – we ask the Scottish Government to act now and do everything they can to improve the lives of LGBTI+ people in Scotland and to not submit to growing anti-LGBGI+ narratives both globally and right here in Scotland. 'We call on the Scottish Government to lead, and to fight for a future Scotland that cares.' READ MORE: Keir Starmer 'completely rejects' comparisons with Enoch Powell The top five countries on the index — Malta, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark and Spain — almost double Britain's score, with theirs ranging from 78% to 89%. The European transgender rights network (TGEU) said: 'Previously a frontrunner on equality, the UK now has a Supreme Court, Prime Minister, and equality body singing from the same hymn sheet as anti-trans campaigners. 'The UK Supreme Court's decision, which defined a 'woman' for the anti-discrimination law, has severely undermined legal certainty for trans people.' You can click here for the full European Rainbow Index.
The National
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
UK ranked second worst in western Europe for LGBT+ laws
Despite coming in first place in 2015, Britain has slipped further down the index every year since and is now ranked as the second worst country in western Europe and Scandinavia for LGBT+ legal protections, with a score of only 46%. Beating only Italy in the ranking, the UK fell seven places this year as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding transgender people and the Labour Government's subsequent response. READ MORE: Graham Linehan pleads not guilty to harassment of transgender woman Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO of the Equality Network, said: 'It is shameful that having been ranked best in Europe for LGBT+ laws ten years ago, we have fallen so far. 'For our treatment of trans people, after the Supreme Court ruling we are now known as one of the worst countries in the whole of Europe. 'The UK must do better.' ILGA-Europe — the international human rights group behind the index rankings — noted that, while hate crime law in Scotland improved with the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, it had little effect on the UK's overall score. Don Kennedy added: 'Scotland, when analysed separately, has in the past been considered progressive and a beacon of LGBTI+ equality and human rights. 'That seems to be quickly deteriorating – we ask the Scottish Government to act now and do everything they can to improve the lives of LGBTI+ people in Scotland and to not submit to growing anti-LGBGI+ narratives both globally and right here in Scotland. 'We call on the Scottish Government to lead, and to fight for a future Scotland that cares.' READ MORE: Keir Starmer 'completely rejects' comparisons with Enoch Powell The top five countries on the index — Malta, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark and Spain — almost double Britain's score, with theirs ranging from 78% to 89%. The European transgender rights network (TGEU) said: 'Previously a frontrunner on equality, the UK now has a Supreme Court, Prime Minister, and equality body singing from the same hymn sheet as anti-trans campaigners. 'The UK Supreme Court's decision, which defined a 'woman' for the anti-discrimination law, has severely undermined legal certainty for trans people.' You can click here for the full European Rainbow Index.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trans people ‘excluded in heart of democracy' after Holyrood toilet rule change
A decision by Holyrood bosses to ban trans people from using the toilets of their preferred gender at the Parliament will leave them excluded at the 'heart of Scotland's democracy', equalities campaigners have warned. The Scottish Trans and Equality Network hit out after the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body – which makes decisions on the accommodation at Holyrood – announced the permitted use of 'all facilities designated as male or female' will be based on 'biological sex'. It comes in the wake of the recent landmark Supreme Court ruling which made clear the terms 'woman' and 'sex'' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. An update from the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued afterwards stated that in workplaces which are open to the public, trans people should not be permitted to use facilities which correspond with their identified gender. Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone said: 'As Scotland's legislature, it is vital that the Parliament fulfils its legal responsibilities. 'Our officials therefore took immediate steps following the publication of the judgment to review it in detail and to consider its implications for services and facilities at Holyrood.' In an email sent to those working at Holyrood, she said that from Monday May 12 the Parliament would 'provide male-only and female-only facilities as well as gender-neutral and accessible facilities'. Ms Johnstone added: 'We believe it is important to take these interim steps now not only to ensure we fulfil our legal responsibilities, but to give clarity to all those using the building. 'Such clarity is an important element in offering all individuals confidence, privacy and dignity when using our facilities. 'Everyone working in, or visiting, Holyrood should feel welcome in the building and be confident there is a suitable facility for them.' But the Scottish Trans and Equality Network branded the move 'rushed, unworkable and exclusionary'. Scottish Trans manager Vic Valentine said: 'If banning trans women from women's toilets and trans men from men's toilets turns out to be a genuine requirement of the recent Supreme Court judgment once the statutory code of practice is in place, then we do not expect Parliament to ignore or to flout the law. 'But we do expect parliamentarians to be honest and to show leadership when laws are clearly unjust, and cause harm to groups of people. 'We cannot understand why this decision has been described as one that will bring 'confidence, privacy and dignity' to everyone. 'It will not do so for trans people. It will exclude us and segregate us in the heart of Scotland's democracy.'
The National
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
What comes next after Supreme Court hands down gender ruling
Former MP Mhairi Black weighs in to say we need to change the 'binary boxes' society is organised around, even though it is now clear that sex is in fact binary, as the majority knew all along. Black appears to equate the legal protection of women with the actions of fascists in the 1930s, calling those objecting to sharing a changing room with someone of the opposite sex 'weirdos'. That's without the aggressive trans lobby saying they will still use the toilets they want to, posting selfies and boasting that if they are banned from doing so, they will 'pee on the floor' of public buildings. This is not the reaction you would expect of the 'marginalised', 'terrified' group they claim to be. Since the ruling, a lot has been made of the fact that trans people comprise only 0.44% of the population, but few mention the hugely disproportionate effect it would have had on the 52% of the population (women) if anyone could become a woman on a whim, access women-only spaces and effectively erase women. In Scotland, John Swinney and Police Scotland have over the last week gone out of their way to reassure the allegedly victimised trans community. What a shame they never reassured gender-critical women and men when they were gaslighting us, telling us we were transphobes, and threatening women's hard-won legal rights. At least the Scottish Government has said it has 'no plans' to revive the disastrous gender reform legislation. I suppose even they could see there is no point. Self-ID is off the cards and Gender Recognition Certificates mean as much as they always did. Tim Hopkins of the Equality Network says self-ID has not caused any problems elsewhere it has been implemented. Really? What about Ireland, which sleep-walked into self-ID by tagging it on to a referendum about abortion rights and now has violent male Barbie Kardashian housed in the women's wing of Limerick Prison, causing considerable problems for the prison authorities? Or Canada, where most schools teach that a child can be born in the wrong body? And countries with self-ID will find out to the cost of women that measures to counter unequal pay and treatment will become meaningless if men can claim them too. Tim even claims that everyone down the line will now get to interpret the Supreme Court decision any way they please, from the EHRC and regulators down to employers and providers. Don't think so. One commentator took it a step further, saying that as males are not now allowed in hospital wards, women will not be able to get female visitors and men will not be present in 'birthing rooms' (it's 'maternity units'). This is where you see how ludicrous the arguments have become. The Scottish Government has never supported gender-critical women, refusing to engage with us meaningfully prior to enacting its daft legislation, which it only got through by forcing MSPs to support it or lose the blessing of their then leader. Even now, they imply the Government will have to undergo some drastically difficult contortions to implement the law. It shouldn't be that difficult. The law is now clear. What is less obvious is that the Scottish Government even effectively gaslit trans people by making them believe they could change sex when they cannot. The Scottish Government now faces a major financial headache in changing its guidance to public bodies to ensure single-sex provision. Some definitely seem more concerned at the fate of trans people than they ever were about women's safety being compromised and women self-excluding from public toilets for religious reasons. They fret about where trans people will now go to the toilet. How about all those gender-neutral toilets which were installed up and down the country (or changed from being male and female) as the Scottish Government decided the law would change in its favour? Just don't take the easy way out and disadvantage disabled people by saying trans people should use their facilities, as was Shirley-Anne Somerville's suggestion in the trans schools guidance. The law is now clear. Let the Scottish Government's response to it also be clear and its support for the women of Scotland be unequivocal. Better late than never. Julia Pannell Tayside THERE was only ever going to be one topic for my letter this week. An issue that I feel very strongly about and which makes my blood boil. Women are now well and truly safe from marauding guys in skirts barging intae their toilets and sexually assaulting them. Hallelujah! (I was always partial to the lowest form of wit!) Seriously, I was always taught that a proper civilised society treats its minority groups and vulnerable folk with the utmost respect. Well, right now, I can't think of a more vulnerable, put-upon minority group within Scotland and the whole of the UK than the trans community (less than 1% of the population). Given the recent Supreme Court judgment, they are most certainly about to be put upon even more! For aw us men and women (the 'proper' type as deemed by the Supreme Court), imagine innocently going into a bar or restaurant for a drink or a meal, then it comes to the point we need a pee, or maybe something a bit more! There are two toilets – one is totally out of bounds, and the other is full o' folk that we find, given our appearance, totally intimidating. What the hell happens now! Depends on the strength of yer ain bladder or bowels, I guess! Time for a desperate rush out of said establishment to find another establishment outside, hopefully nearby, that has a disabled loo or a unisex one! Hopefully we can keep it in that long! This is the predicament trans folk now face. Before deciding where to drink or eat, a recce of potential bars and restaurants will need to take place beforehand to assess if they have a disabled or unisex loo. Hang on though, disabled toilets are for disabled folk. Why should trans folk be forced to utilise toilets specially adapted for disabled folk, another minority group in society whose needs are also often overlooked? That just leaves unisex toilets, which loads of bars and restaurants don't currently have. Returning to the 'threat' posed by said men in skirts against the female population. Am I missing something? The last time I checked the statistics for women and girls being assaulted by men posing as trans women or even genuine trans women themselves were so miniscule as to be insignificant. It's all about what MIGHT happen! What aboot us guys though! Statistics definitely reflect that women and girls are a million times more likely to be murdered, seriously assaulted, the victims of assault generally, rape, serious sexual assault, other sexual assaults, verbal sexual abuse, unwanted sexual comments, misogyny, etc, etc, by whom? Us 'proper' guys! Dae ye want me tae gaun on! For god's sake why can't folk gie the trans community a bloody break! Giving Rabbie Burns's famous song a bit of a twist, I reckon – 'a human being is a human being for aw that!' Ivor Telfer Dalgety Bay, Fife
