JK Rowling has accused one of the Green ministers in Humza Yousaf’s authorities of being a “fundamentalist” after he rubbished the Cass review into gender id companies for youngsters.
Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens’ co-leader, mentioned there have been “far too many criticisms of it” for him to just accept it as a “valid scientific document”.
Despite writer Dr Hilary Cass being one of the UK’s most outstanding paediatricians, he mentioned “serious evidence” had not been thought-about and was “specifically excluded” from her review.
Mr Harvie additionally mentioned he wished to be “really, really clear” {that a} choice final week to droop the use of puberty blockers in Scotland within the wake of the review was made by clinicians and never ministers.
However, his try to distance the Scottish Government from the transfer had beforehand been undermined by Neil Gray, the SNP well being secretary, who mentioned it was the fitting choice.
Highlighting Mr Harvie’s feedback, Rowling tweeted: “No objective truth or scientific fact will shake a fundamentalist. There’s literally no limit to the nonsense they’ll speak, the lies they’ll tell, or the derision they’ll brave rather than question the faith around which they’ve organised their lives.”
Michelle Thomson, an SNP MP, mentioned Mr Harvie’s response was “unbelievable”. She mentioned: “It is, in impact, a type of science denialism. That’s heading in the direction of the world of Trump.
“Nobody who had learn and understood the report couldn’t agree it was fully evidence-based and scientific from somebody who’s extraordinarily nicely thought to be a number one tutorial and paediatrician of their discipline.”
Green response
She added: “The Greens need to decide that within their role in the Scottish Government they either respond to evidence – even if they don’t agree or are disappointed or dismayed by its findings – or they don’t. If they don’t, I can’t see how it won’t call into question the Bute House agreement. I don’t think that we should continue in partnership with the Greens.”
Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Tory deputy chief, mentioned: “Patrick Harvie’s dismissiveness in the direction of the Cass Review additional emphasises that he’s not match to be in authorities.
“Instead of accepting its suggestions, he’s nonetheless making an attempt to undermine the review. Both the SNP and the Greens have buried their heads within the sand by saying it’s solely a matter for clinicians reasonably than doing the fitting factor and providing help to guard our susceptible, younger folks.”
Michael Foran, an equality legislation professional and public legislation lecturer on the University of Glasgow, mentioned: “Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens spreading misinformation about the Cass Report and stoking a culture war by refusing to deny or condemn his colleague Ross Greer’s description of it as a transphobic conservative report. This is irresponsible and dangerous.”
Mr Harvie was requested repeatedly on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show whether or not he thought-about the Cass review to be a “valid scientific document”.
He mentioned: “I’ve seen far too many criticisms of it to date to have the ability to say that. There will likely be a ministerial assertion subsequent week about what occurs subsequent and I wish to be actually, actually clear that the choice made final week was not a authorities choice.
“It was made by particular person clinicians, and in the event that they want extra proof that it’s best observe world wide, and has been the case for a very long time until it may well proceed, then we have to work with them to make it possible for our proof is there.”
His feedback come forward of a ministerial assertion on the review this week, and after one other Scottish Green MSP described the report as a “transphobic, conservative document”.
Dr Cass discovered that the proof for permitting younger folks and kids to vary gender was constructed on weak foundations and that there was no good proof on the long-term outcomes of remedies akin to puberty blockers which can be given to kids.
She may additionally not rule out that they may contribute to psychological or bodily issues in later life, together with infertility.
This prompted the Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow to announce that it will additionally now not prescribe “gender affirming hormones” to new sufferers aged beneath 18.