Statement by TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth:
“We really are through the looking glass. Alliance MP Stephen Farry has just congratulated Scotland on passing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, and wishes the UK and Northern Ireland would follow suit.
“What Stephen Farry doesn’t say is that this is a bill that will allow sex offenders to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate allowing them along with others to gain legal recognition without the need for a medical diagnosis. Legal recognition will now also be recognised from the age of 16.
“It risks safe spaces for women and girls, opens single-sex spaces up to abuse by predatory males, and gives sex offenders the right to change gender based on self-ID. This is a homophobic, sexist, misogynistic & regressive law, that should be repealed, not made easier to abuse by those with nefarious intentions. Essentially this bill means that a man standing trial for rape can claim they’re a woman and force a victim to call them she.
“This bill is immoral. It is definitely not something to be celebrated and it sets back womens rights that were so hard fought for, by decades.
“It has always been the way of Alliance to jump on the latest bandwagon and it appears that they have no care on how harmful the outcome will be, if it gains them a few votes then they are happy. However, this is one step too far, even for Alliance. Shame on them, shame on the Scottish government and shame on all those who voted for this bill.”