Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour, has expressed fears that LGBTQ+ rights in the UK could be eroded, warning that equal marriage is no longer secure. Speaking to the Guardian after being announced as the new chair of Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ charity, Dugdale said she now feels 'quite scared' as a lesbian and nervous about holding her wife's hand in public.
Dugdale pointed to Italy as an example of how quickly rights can be rolled back, saying: 'It’s not beyond the realm that that could happen here.' She takes up the unpaid role after a turbulent period for Stonewall, which lost more than half its income and made dozens of staff redundant, partly due to its uncompromising stance on transgender rights.
Critics had accused Stonewall of pursuing a 'militant trans agenda' and an absolutist position on trans inclusion. Dugdale acknowledged the charity's missteps, saying: 'We’ve made mistakes at certain times; given the chance to do things again we might have done things differently.' She called for a kinder debate on transgender issues, urging an end to 'culture wars' and polarised positions.
Dugdale also had warm words for JK Rowling, whose views on trans rights have sparked controversy. She said she respects Rowling's work and advocacy for single mothers, but added that she understands why many trans people feel Rowling's approach has become 'cruel and dehumanising'. Dugdale stressed the need for dialogue, saying Stonewall wants to be 'in the messy, grey bit … because that’s where progress and consensus is found.'
