JK Rowling has hailed an SNP MSP who resigned from the Scottish Government over its controversial gender recognition reforms as a "heroine".
Ash Regan quit as community safety minister last Thursday just hours before Holyrood voted in favour of legislation to make it easier for people to legally change their gender identity.
She became the first SNP minister to resign from government over a matter of conscience since the party took power in 2007.
Rowling, a long-standing critic of the gender recognition reform act (GRA), last night tweeted a message of support for Regan.
She said: "This is what a principled politician looks like. Ash Regan will rightly be seen as a heroine when future generations of Scottish women look back at the profoundly misogynistic legislation currently being pushed through by the Sturgeon government."
in her resignation letter to the First Minister last week, Regan wrote: "I have considered the issue of gender recognition reform very carefully over some time.
"I have concluded that my conscience will not allow me to vote with the government at the stage one of the Bill."
In a tweet posted on Saturday, Regan thanked "the hundreds of constituents and others across Scotland" who had supported her stance.
She added: "This is an issue of a deep concern to many and I am touched that some have shared their experiences of trauma with me and their need for safe spaces."
Responding to Regan's letter last week, Nicola Sturgeon wrote: "As you are aware, a key requirement of the Ministerial Code is collective responsibility - a principle essential to effective governance, and which applies across all matters of government policy irrespective of the issue.
"I note that at no stage have you approached me - or indeed the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice - to raise your concerns about the Gender Recognition Reform Bill or the vote.
"However, in circumstances in which a Minister is unable to support the government, it is the case that the only options available are resignation ahead of the vote or dismissal thereafter."
The GRA Bill aims to speed up the time it takes to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) and lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16.
Ministers also want to drop the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and the need for a doctor’s report.
It comfortably cleared its first hurdle at Holyrood last week by 88 votes to 33 - with seven SNP MSPs voting against it.
The vote was overwhelmingly carried following widespread support from SNP, Green, Lib Dem and Labour MSPs. Two Tories also backed the Bill.
Earlier this month, Rowling has branded Sturgeon a “destroyer" of women’ rights over plans to make it simpler for people to change gender.
The bestselling Harry Potter author shared a picture of herself on social media as women gathered outside the Scottish Parliament today to protest against the SNP/Green Government proposals.
In a show of solidarity, Rowling stated: “I stand in solidarity with @ForWomenScot and all women protesting and speaking outside the Scottish parliament. #NoToSelfID.”
She also wore a teeshirt which claimed that Sturgeon is a "destroyer" of women’s rights.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
