Scottish Parliament Removes Gender Search Function for MSPs
The Scottish Parliament has eliminated the option to search for Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) by gender on its official website.
This change follows the election of Holyrood's first two transgender MSPs, Greens Iris Duane and Q Manivannan, earlier in May 2024.
Initially, the parliament updated the gender filter on its website by adding a non-binary category alongside the existing male and female options. However, the gender search function has now been removed entirely.
After some MSPs expressed concerns that women were being "erased" from the website, a parliament spokesperson clarified that the gender filter was a "legacy system" removed as part of the ongoing Inclusive Parliament Review.
Prior to the election, visitors to the Scottish Parliament website could filter MSPs by gender, with male and female as the available options.
Within days of the Holyrood election on 7 May 2024, the website was updated to include a non-binary option. Manivannan was listed under this category, while Duane remained in the female section.
By Monday following these changes, the gender search function was completely removed.
'Women won't shut up and go away'
Conservative MSPs Rachael Hamilton and Meghan Gallacher addressed a letter to Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson, expressing that the removal of the gender filter "risks undermining the visibility of women's representation in public life."
They further stated that this change would complicate efforts to "accurately assess progress relating to female participation within Scottish politics."
"At a time when there is ongoing public discussion around the importance of sex-based data and representation, we believe the Scottish Parliament should lead by example in ensuring that women are not erased or obscured within official systems and reporting mechanisms," the MSPs said.
The two Conservative MSPs requested clarification regarding the rationale behind the decision and inquired if there are plans to reinstate the gender search function.
Labour MSP Carol Mochan also questioned the presiding officer about the removal of this website feature, posting on social media:
"Erasing women doesn't mean we will shut up and go away."
A spokesperson for the Scottish Parliament stated that systems and processes are being reconsidered as part of the Inclusive Parliament Review.
"The online filter function on our website is a legacy system and we have taken steps to remove it.
The review will also consider what personal information on members we need to publish and in what format."
