Scottish Parliament removes option to search for MSPs by gender following election of first trans MSPs
The Scottish Parliament has removed the option to search for MSPs by gender on its website following the election of its first trans MSPs.
The change comes after the election of Scottish Greens MSPs Iris Duane and Q Manivannan, marking a milestone for trans representation in Scottish politics.
It is understood parliamentary officials had initially added a non-binary category alongside male and female to accommodate Manivannan. Questions were later raised over how Duane should be categorised within the existing system, leading Holyrood to remove the gender filter altogether while a wider review is carried out.
The Scottish Parliament said the online search tool was part of a “legacy system” and that its removal forms part of an ongoing Inclusive Parliament Review examining how members’ information is published.
Trans rights advocates have long argued that official systems built around rigid gender categories can exclude or misrepresent trans and non-binary people, particularly as public institutions seek to become more inclusive.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Parliament said: “As part of the Inclusive Parliament Review, our systems and processes are currently under review.
“The online filter function on our website is a legacy system and we have taken steps to remove it.
“The review will also consider what personal information on members we need to publish and in what format.”
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