Green MSP Iris Duane, one of the first openly transgender members of the Scottish Parliament, has stated that being transgender has "never been the most interesting thing about my life." She described facing "upsetting" online abuse following her election in May.
Duane, who represents the Glasgow region alongside Green colleague Q Mannivanan, made history as the first openly transgender MSPs. However, she expressed disappointment that some have focused on her identity rather than her political contributions.
Focus on Identity vs. Contribution
"There are 65 new MSPs. We’re all very much going with the flow… and yes, I am transgender, but that’s never been the most interesting thing about my life," Duane said. "Of course, some people have chosen to focus on that, which I think is a shame."
She emphasized her commitment to delivering for constituents over the next five years, highlighting her diverse experiences and talents.
Online Abuse and Support
In the days after the election, the Scottish Greens condemned the "disgraceful" abuse directed at their new MSPs. The party stated: "Trans people in particular have been targeted and abused as part of a cynical culture war that has been encouraged by other parties and parts of the media."
Duane acknowledged the difficulty of facing such hostility: "It was quite difficult to know that individuals that don’t know me or don’t know my values or don’t know where I stood for, wanted to bring so much harm upon myself, and that was quite upsetting."
Despite this, she noted that her in-person experience at Holyrood has been positive: "I have had such a positive and welcoming environment in person. First of all, nobody mentions it in real life very often, and those that do thank me for being in politics."
EHRC Guidance and Impact
Her election coincided with new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which clarifies that single-sex spaces like toilets, changing rooms, and hospital wards should generally be based on biological sex rather than acquired gender. Service providers can now exclude trans people if others might "object."
Duane criticized the guidance, saying it "will make the UK more unfriendly for not just trans people but for everyone." She noted the lack of a verifiable way to challenge someone's gender identity under the new rules.
Political Priorities: Housing and Education
At 23, Duane is one of the youngest parliamentarians in the UK. She graduated from the University of Glasgow this summer with a degree in politics and social policy. She now serves as the Greens' spokeswoman for tertiary education and housing.
Duane pledged to hold the government accountable on the housing emergency: "There are people in this country that are waiting more than 10 years to get a social home. There are homeless people, there are people in temporary accommodation that’s unfit for them… housing is a human right."
Changing Political Landscape
The Greens gained seven additional seats in May, now holding 15 MSPs, while newcomers Reform UK won 17 seats. Duane reflected on the shifting political climate: "People are now exploring what it means to vote differently, especially in an age of social media… I think it says that people are tired with the establishment parties."
