Minister ‘misled parliament’ over gender ideology

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto has been accused of misleading parliament twice on the same day.

SNP MSP and former government minister Fergus Ewing is calling for Minto to apologise and correct the record after she insisted gender identity is “not taught in schools”.

Last week in parliament, Ewing asked Minto to remove all gender ideology references from teaching about relationships, sexual health and parenthood, and remove third-party activist groups from schools.

But Minto replied: “Children and young people are not taught about their own gender identity in schools. That is a personal matter for any individual and, in the case of young people, their family.”

That prompted criticism from families who say their children have been captured by the “dangerous” gender ideology being taught.

The Scottish Government’s guidance states teachers should “encourage children to be whatever kind of girl or boy they want to be, free from stereotypes and gender-biased expectations”.

And guidance for teachers in one primary school said pupils should have opportunities to discuss gender identity and sexuality. Ewing said: “I’ve been inundated with comments from people with clear examples that this is taught in schools. I am therefore now writing to the minister to ask she withdraw this false statement, correct the record and apologise.”

Ewing, previously suspended for rebelling against the party line, added: “I had better prepare for another suspension. I should ask if the campervan is free.”

Minto insisted that GPs had been fully consulted over moves to have them prescribe gender-changing medications despite concerns from the Royal College of GPs and the General Medical Council.

She said: “We had very clear consultation across the board to ensure that the published reports provide the right standard for Scotland to move forward with regard to gender identity healthcare.”

But MSP Stephen Kerr said: “By not giving complete answers to what GPs feel about being expected to be writing prescriptions for powerful gender-changing drugs, Minto clearly misled parliament. GPs don’t feel they have been consulted, they don’t have the expertise nor the training.”

The Scottish Government said: “The Supporting Transgender Young People in Schools guidance does not recommend pupils are encouraged to socially transition, and any claim otherwise is completely incorrect.”

Alba MSP Ash Regan said: “It was frustrating on Tuesday to hear Jenni Minto enflame what she described as ‘often toxic commentary’ by adding confusion in her statement and answers to the critical matter of Scotland’s progress on full implementation of the thirty-two Cass Review recommendations on ‘Gender Identity Healthcare for Young People’.

“The minister’s answer to Fergus Ewing that ‘Children and young people are not taught about their own gender identity in schools’ must weigh heavy on those courageous families who attended the parliamentary round table in May this year to share their traumatic experiences of gender ideology at school, influencing their very vulnerable children that they were ‘born in the wrong body.”