THE Scottish Green Party have passed an emergency motion at their 2018 autumn conference stating that transphobes are "not welcome" in the party.
The emergency motion raised by the Rainbow Greens sought to share a message of trans-positivity amidst the ongoing consultation on the Gender Recognition Act in England and Wales.
The text of the motion put to members that "green politics cannot be reconciled with discrimination on the basis of gender. For this reason, the Conference of the Scottish Green Party takes this opportunity to publicly reaffirm our committment to trans positivity, and to reiterate our welcome to people of every (including no) gender".
READ: Gender Recognition Act debate is being used to roll back trans rights
The motion concluded that "transphobic or trans-exclusionary individuals of any kind are not welcome as members of the Scottish Green Party".
Trans Positivity Motion 📣🏳️🌈💚
— Rainbow Greens (@rainbowgreens) October 14, 2018
Transphobic & trans-exclusionary rhetoric has been increasing across the media landscape. With this in mind we want to strengthen the Scottish Green’s commitment to trans rights, inclusivity & acceptance.
Join us at #SGP18 https://t.co/AfodL1fQ1E pic.twitter.com/vJGCOvIQ0j
The motion passed with overwhelming support.
Scottish Greens' member James Thornbury welcomed the result, stating that it was ok to be unfamiliar with trans rights while an effort was made to address them.
Following the vote, he shared online what he had said on stage: "If you've had transphobic views in the past and changed, or if you otherwise want to learn and grow as a person now, we welcome you. It's okay to want to understand. It's okay to be unfamiliar."
He concluded that there should be no doubt where the Scottish Greens stand on this issue.
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