Mr Harvey said the issue should have led to disciplinary action by the SNP, but instead it was “allowed to inflate” and people escaped by “promoting transphobia”. He said some of the online comments involved were “disgusting”. Mr Harvey spoke in the wake of Green Minister’s colleague Lorna Slater, comparing critics of Scottish gender reform to racists and anti-Semites. The Scottish Government has introduced a bill in Holyrood to speed up and simplify the process for a trans person to obtain legal recognition of their acquired sex. The law currently requires a two-year medical diagnosis and procedure. According to the plans of the Scottish Government, the element of medical diagnosis will be abolished, so that individuals can self-identify as their acquired gender. The schedule will also be compressed to six months and the age limit for applying for a gender identity certificate will be reduced from 18 to 16. Critics warn that the move could violate the rights of women based on sex and make the system easier for sexual predators to exploit. The issue has sparked controversy in the SNP, with MP Joanna Cherry QC and Treasury Secretary Kate Forbes among those voicing concern about possible changes. On BBC Radio in Scotland, Mr Harvey said: “Obviously it is possible to express concern or uncertainty or to want to discuss in detail how we are implementing this legislation properly without being transphobic. Of course it is. “We want to have this debate with respect, free of transphobia. “I hope that all political parties will try to do that [tackle transphobia] with greater success in the future “. Asked about differences within the party with which the Greens share power in Holyrood, Mr Harvey criticized the SNP record. He said: “I think it is true that there are still a significant number of high profile people within the SNP who have been allowed to escape by promoting transphobia. “Some of the comments I have seen on the internet have been horrible. “All political parties have difficult processes when trying to reform their internal disciplinary procedures – I can acknowledge that it is not always easy for any political party to deal with such things – but it has been allowed to back down.” However, he did not name those within the SNP he was referring to. He added: “I think we are now at a point where this is much less of a problem now than it was a few years ago and it is quite clear that there is an overwhelming majority in the Scottish Parliament to move forward with this legislation, do it. in a calm and measured way, to answer questions and concerns that people have because these answers exist and have been thoroughly studied. ” Mr Harvie went on to say that if there was to be a “respectful debate” on the bill, it should be “without transphobic prejudices”. The Glasgow MSP concluded: “We will go ahead and pass this legislation as other countries have and the sky will not fall.” Joanna Cherry QC, Member of Parliament for South West Edinburgh and Vice-Chair of the Westminster Joint Commission on Human Rights, said: challenging legislative proposals based on the theory of gender identity as transphobic and related to “racists” and “anti-Semites”. Mrs Slater wants us banned from the radio and Mr Harvie wants us to be disciplined by our political parties. “Both of these politicians must go and familiarize themselves with Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect freedom of belief and freedom of speech in this country. “They could also do so by reading and understanding the Equality Act and the Employment Appeal Tribunal decision in the Maya Forstater v CGD Europe case, which found that discrimination, harassment and victimization against critically acclaimed illegal under the Equality Act. . “Although it was a labor law case, the prohibition of this kind of discrimination applies to member organizations, including political parties, in relation to their members. “The Green Party of England and Wales is currently suing a former leadership candidate for such discrimination. “Undoubtedly this is why sensible political parties in Scotland do not pursue complaints against women simply because they maintain and express such views in the way that Mr Harvey seems to want. “It would be good for him and Ms Slater to take a look at the Public Sector Equality Duty which obliges governments to take due account of the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equal opportunities and cultivate good relations between different protected characteristics.” A SNP spokesman said: “The SNP is proud to be promoting legislation to improve the lives of trans and non-trans people.”
