The first minister of Scotland spoke at an Edinburgh event against violence against women and girls.
The ideas of Nicola Sturgeon’s government to alter the Gender Recognition Act have been jeered.
On Tuesday, a participant at an event held by Zero Tolerance Scotland yelled “shame on you” at the Scottish first minister.
In an online video, the heckler could be heard saying, “You are putting women at risk by enabling pedophiles, sexual criminals, and rapists to self-identify in Scotland.
“Women advocating for women’s rights are not against transgender individuals.
“Shame on you, you are failing vulnerable women in Scotland by denying them private locations away from men.”
She asserted that trans women have raped women, but she did not provide examples.
In response, Ms. Sturgeon cautioned against stigmatizing trans individuals further.
JK Rowling, an outspoken critic of the reforms, commended the heckler after the video went viral, saying that she would want to send the woman “a crate of her favorite tipple.”
The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to eliminate the necessity for a gender dysphoria diagnosis to obtain a gender recognition certificate.
The law would also lower the minimum age of applicants from 18 to 16, and reduce the period most applicants must live in their acquired gender from two years to three months, followed by a three-month reflection period.
At stage two, amendments to the bill raised the time limit for 16- and 17-year-olds to six months, and a provision was added stating that the bill would not affect the Equality Act.
Concerns have been raised regarding the bill’s potential impact on single-sex places, with some critics claiming it might put women at risk, an allegation that Ms. Sturgeon and the Scottish government have repeatedly disputed.
People who have undergone gender reassignment may be denied access to single-sex spaces, such as a women’s refuge or changing area, under the Equality Act of 2010.
Pam Duncan-Glancy, a Labour MSP, proposed an amendment to the bill stating that it would not affect the Equality Act, which was approved by the Scottish government last week.
Critical voices are heard
The heckler also criticized the event organizers, who had requested that attendees refrain from discussing gender changes.
After it looked like the woman had been removed from the room, Ms. Sturgeon apologized if her presence had triggered the conflict.
She said, “I do not, and I know this organization does not attempt to restrict anyone’s freedom of speech.”
“Voices must be heard, but it’s also essential that everyone has the chance to speak freely about these problems.
We shouldn’t stigmatize further a group of women who are already stigmatized too much.
