WHEN are pro-trans supporters like Scottish Greens activist Ryan McNaughton going to stop vilifying people for having the temerity to “affirm sex as a biological characteristic” and oppose their skewed interpretation of biological sex-based existence and rights (MSP to challenge BBC over controversial Question Time trans rights debate, February 4)?
I was initially reluctant to watch this edition of the programme when I saw who were on the panel, particularly India Willoughby and Jenny Gilruth, because I expected it would be just a repeat of the media-massaged debate that has given undue attention to the pro-trans reform side of the debate and paid lip service to those with real concerns about it – concerns that the pro-trans side fail to answer while vehemently denigrating and vilifying people as their response, as typically shown by McNaughton in his diatribe here.
I recall eminent and respected Lord Robert Winston, professor of science and society at Imperial College London, advising on a previous Question Time that biological sex could not be changed – that birth sex DNA is intrinsic in every cell of the body – and which he’d preceded by saying he could expect considerable social media abuse for what he was about to say.
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Such oft-demonstrated vitriol from those like McNaughton defines the campaigning standard of the trans lobby. Claim inequality, capture the ear of “rights conscience”-driven MSPs and others whipped to vote, and shout down anyone who disagrees, while completely denying any validity of the biological condition and fundamental sex-based rights humankind evolved with.
This Question Time audience was claimed to be constructed to be representative of voters. What surprised me was the demonstrated strength of feeling about this issue, which I’ve long experienced and previously articulated but is rarely reflected in the media. And on this “representative” showing it illustrates just how out of step McNaughton, his supporters, trans lobbyists and the Scottish Parliament are with widespread public opinion, despite the vote in parliament which gives concerns about whether those MSPs are really in touch with their electorate or just winging it to salve a vociferous minority.
I wish India Willoughby well. We all have a right to live our life as we see fit under fair and just law. However, India agreed to be a member of this panel in the full and certain knowledge of the strength of feeling generally about the issue. I suspect at the outset she relished the opportunity.
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However, the hard truths have always existed, and weren’t addressed in the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which was enacted without even either a biological or legal definition of what a man or woman is, which should surely have been the starting point for any legislation in this area.
Without such clear basic legal definition, how on earth can one become the other sex?
Notwithstanding any individual contentious comments in this Question Time programme, I curiously find myself uncomfortably congratulating the BBC for allowing this contentious debate to be aired, and to the Westminster government for stalling ill-considered legislation.
Not happy about either.
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
QUESTION Time from Glasgow with four Unionists and one SNP representative on the panel – this in Glasgow, a city with an SNP council and SNP MPs.
I remember not so many weeks ago Fiona Bruce saying they were in a Tory constituency and the audience reflected this. They don’t even try to do this in Scotland, neither with the panel nor the audience. I know they have no choice when it comes to a Labour MP, but what about MSPs?
So according to the BBC there are no journalists in Glasgow or the Central Belt – they are imported from England. Ella Whelan was born in Carlisle, so that is near enough even though she lives and works in England.
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India Willoughby, a transwoman, was brought in to stir things up – the viewing figures for Question Time are dropping. The BBC is incapable of being impartial, especially in Scotland. Even Radio Scotland has lost one-fifth of its listeners since last year and who can blame people – I would rather listen to anything than the “impartial” Kaye Adams.
Did India call herself a “biological woman”? I think India must also belong to the flat earth society – she cannot accept sex is immutable. People can dress as they like, be with anyone who will have them but they cannot change their biological sex, so why should women have their hard-fought-for rights taken away?
Winifred McCartney
Paisley
MY take on QT was that the discussion was not about the Scottish legislation but an excuse for the opposition to the UK 2004 Gender Recognition Act and the UK 2010 Equality Act to be aired. I am still none the wiser as to why the Section 35 was unleashed after watching Alister Jack’s lacklustre performance in parliament, reading his 13 pages of legal opinion and watching this dismal programme.
Cameron Gibson
thenational.scot
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