DOUGLAS Ross has been condemned by the LGBT+ community in his own constituency after backing JK Rowling in the row over transgender rights.
Last month Pride in Moray organised the region’s first ever Pride event, attracting a crowd of more than 1000 people.
However, the organisation has now spoken out against Moray MP Douglas Ross after he made comments in support of author JK Rowling.
Ross, who did not appear to attend his constituency’s first Pride event, said on Twitter that he supported Rowling’s position regarding the quashing of reforms to the Gender Recognition Act.
The proposed changes are supported by the majority of MSPs in Holyrood, except those in the Scottish Conservatives.
They seek to remove requirement of a medical diagnosis and reduce the time a transgender person has to live in their acquired gender before being permitted to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate.
In an article in The Sunday Times, Rowling said that Nicola Sturgeon and other MSPs should be held responsible if changes to the Gender Recognition Act led to attacks on women.
In a Tweet, Ross said: “JK Rowling writes powerfully in the Sunday Times today. She is spot on about Nicola Sturgeon.
“We fully support @jk_rowling on the need to protect women’s rights.”
Moray in Pride have now condemned the Scottish Conservative leader’s comments, stating that they support transgender people’s right to self-identification – that is, to identify as their acquired gender without requiring official agreement from a doctor.
In a statement the organisation said: “We understand that Douglas Ross’s comments will be distressing to the community here in Moray and beyond, but we restate our support for trans people’s right to self-identification.
“We believe trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid.
“Pride in Moray is committed to continuing to support and advocate for the trans community, so that those who are will become your friends, neighbours, coworkers and family members have an equal chance to succeed and thrive.
“We all deserve to have the freedom to live as our true selves.”
It comes as TV presenter Graham Norton deleted his Twitter account after supporters of JK Rowling criticised him for calling on more expert opinion to be heard in the debate on transgender rights.
