A support group for carers in Dundee handed back more than £300 raised at a coffee morning hosted by local MSP Shona Robison in protest at her support for controversial laws on gender recognition for trans men and women.
Ms Robison, who is also an SNP Government minister, had helped raise £314.11 in December 2018 for Glenlaw House Carers’ Support Group, based at Kingscross Hospital.
But the group has become unhappy with the government’s push to reform the Gender Recognition Act, claiming men who go on to self-identify as women will create safety problems.
The proposals aim to make it easier for a trans person to legally change their gender.
There is the possibility of a man being on a single-sex ward if they self-ID as female.”
– Allan Petrie
The Scottish Government says the reforms will not change how single-sex spaces such as toilets and changing rooms are currently used.
Trans people can already use the facilities that match their gender, and will continue to do so after the reforms are passed.
READ MORE: Here’s how Tayside and Fife MSPs split over gender reform
On the morning of the vote on Wednesday, group member Allan Petrie said: “We are extremely concerned for the safety of our children, especially once they move into adult services.
“Then if they are in hospital, we can’t spent the night with them.
“There is the possibility of a man being on a single-sex ward if they self-ID as female.”
He claimed a lack of changing places in Scotland leads people to change the children they look after on toilet floors.
Mr Petrie went to Ms Robison’s office in Dundee to give back the cheque.
‘Safety and dignity’
MSPs were preparing to finish voting on the reforms on December 21.
On Tuesday, parliament ran on for hours while MSPs went line by line through proposed changes to the legislation.
Politicians called it a night when the lights went out in the chamber.
A spokeswoman for the SNP said Ms Robison has not had any contact with Mr Petrie over the returned cheque, other than Mr Petrie tagging her in a tweet.
They added: “This money was donated by Ms Robison’s office following a fundraising coffee morning at a local community centre several years ago.
“If the donation is returned, Ms Robison will ensure the funds are given to another charity.”
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