Meeting of the Parliament 19 June 2025
In previous discussions in the chamber and in a letter to me, the corporate body has said that it has been and remains committed to providing an inclusive environment. The letter says:
“The SPCB’s intention is that everyone should feel welcome and included at Holyrood”.
However, the letter from the Equality Network and Scottish Trans, which Jackson Carlaw referred to, demonstrates that the opposite is the case. It says:
“this change will make trans people feel significantly less welcome at Parliament”.
It goes on to say:
“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.”
I am also aware that the response to colleagues in the staff union representing staff in the Scottish Green parliamentary group has not addressed the substantive points that the union raised. The union says that the response did not address the lack of initial consultation, the specific negative impacts on trans staff members or gender non-conforming people and the violation of privacy and dignity; nor did it address the criticism of the equality impact assessment and other points.
Given that—