Eryn Browning has been criticised for her comments by Alba and the Tories.
A Green candidate has said a double rapist who changed gender while awaiting trial is a woman.
Eryn Browning said Isla Bryson is an “evil woman” but a “woman nonetheless”.
Bryson was jailed for eight years in 2023 after raping two women in Clydebank and Glasgow while known as Adam Graham.
Bryson was initially remanded to the all-female Cornton Vale prison, but was then moved to a men’s facility.
The original decision sparked a national outcry and fuelled a national debate on self-ID for trans people.
In a tweet, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser wrote: “A key question for anyone who wants to be Scotland’s First Minister: is ‘Isla Bryson’ a man or a woman?”.
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Browning, who is standing for the Greens in the Clydebank Waterfront by election, responded by saying that “Isla Bryson is a woman. an evil woman, but a woman nonetheless”, before criticising Fraser.
Alba MSP Ash Regan said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s inability to say that double rapist Isla Bryson is a man badly undermined her position as First Minister.
“Saying that violent trans-identifying males are women isn’t just offensive, it is inherently dangerous to women and girls. Its justification is based on the self-ID gender affirmation principles that led to the axed Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
“The Scottish Green Party should make clear whether or not they stand by the comments of their candidate that the male rapist Isla Bryson is a woman and let the public decide if they agree. Their answer may lead John Swinney to regret his recent overtures on potential future deals.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “These outrageous comments from this Green candidate are entirely in line with her party’s extremist views on gender ideology.
“Common sense should tell this candidate that Isla Bryson is a dangerous male rapist and it was disgraceful that he was ever housed in a women’s prison.”
The Greens did not comment.
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