British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said biological sex “really matters” after being asked about the case of a transgender woman convicted of rape before her gender transition, who has now been sent to a women’s prison in Scotland.
Isla Bryson, 31was convicted of raping two women -when still identified as Adam Graham-, by the Glasgow High Court.
Now, concerns have been raised about his detention, as is located in Cornton Vale Women’s Prisonin Stirling, while awaiting sentencing.
After the controversy, the main minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, confirmed last Thursday in the House of Lords that Bryson would not be detained in the women’s prison.
One of the complainants even said she was sure Bryson was pretending to be transgender to “make life easier.”
“We should have enough compassion and tolerance for those who question their gender and identity, and we will always support them. But we have to recognize the challenges it poses for women’s safety.”Rishi Sunak
On the issue of women’s safety, Sunak admitted, for his part, that “a good enough job has not been done in the past” and assured that Bryson’s case in Scotland shows some of the challenges of gender transition.
“We should have enough compassion and tolerance for those who question their gender and identity, and we will always support them. But we have to recognize the challenges it poses for women’s safety. And that’s why biological sex is important,” said the Thursday night the prime minister in an interview with Piers Morgan on the Talk TV program, which is broadcast on different British television channels.
Sunak also criticized Sturgeon’s plans to allow people to more easily access their perceived gender identity.
“Whether it’s about sex, women’s spaces or prisons, biological sex really matters,” insisted the prime minister.
Scotland has suspended the movement of any transgender person who is deprived of their libertywhile conducting an “urgent” review of the rules.
The Scottish Prison Service announced a review of another recent case, that of Tiffany Scott, who harassed a 13-year-old girl when she identified herself as a man.
