Transgenderism should not become a ‘no-go area for public debate’, says Scottish Church leader
from Christian Today:
Changes to Scotland’s hate crime laws must include protections for “robust disagreement” on the issue of transgenderism, an evangelical leader has said.
Andy Hunter, head of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) in Scotland, said that people should have the “freedom to publicly discuss and criticise religious beliefs, sexual orientations and transgender policies (including protecting the belief in the immutability of biological sex)”.
His comments were made in a submission to the Justice Committee, which is fielding responses from the public on the Scottish Government’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill.
If passed, the Bill will make “stirring up hatred” an offence, a move that has been strongly criticised by a wide range of groups, including Churches and Christian organisations, lawyers, the BBC, actors, comedians and the police.
Justice secretary Humza Yousaf has said that “criticism, including very robust criticism, is in itself not a matter for prosecution under this Bill” but his assurances have failed to quell concerns over the wording, which critics say is vague and may result in traditional views on transgenderism falling foul of the law.
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