One of the Green Party’s largest members’ groups, Green Party Women (GPW), has been cut off from the party after a disagreement over sex and gender policies. GPW members said the group was “disaffiliated” for promoting gender-critical beliefs, arguing that people’s biological sex could not be changed. However, a spokesperson for the Green Party refuted the claims, marking procedural reasons as the cause. While the Green Party holds an official stance on supporting transgender people and easing legal sex changes through self-determination, there are members who contest this approach, including gender-critical followers, sparking internal divisions.
According to the BBC, party by-laws were breached by GPW for running a committee election later than planned, cancelling their leadership. GPW refuted the timing of the event, stating it was on time. The former GPW chairman also criticised the Green Party’s decision, branding it as “politically motivated” and “spurious”. Some GPW members believe that the severing of ties was an attempt by party leaders to silence the group. Without the Green Party’s affiliation, GPW can no longer utilise party resources or contribute to the Green Party’s annual conferences. The group has also been removed from its position on the Equality and Diversity Committee and the Green Party’s leading Political Committee.
The Green Party has stated that it will welcome GPW back if they can meet constitutional requirements, although no timescale has been provided. The party has long supported trans rights, and its rights and responsibilities page asserts their belief that trans men and women are valid and exist. However, some Green Party members feel that stipulations within key policies remain ambiguous, particularly concerning trans people’s access to women-only spaces. Last year, a motion put forward by the GPW calling for protections to sex-based rights was rejected, leading some to believe that gender-identity and trans people were excluded from the party’s official policy.
Despite internal divisions and GPW’s disaffiliation, the Green Party remains committed to supporting trans rights. However, some members seem to have struggled with the party’s position, leading to growing tensions within the party. It remains to be seen whether the GPW will be able to successfully meet the constitutional requirements to return, and how the Green Party will continue to navigate the complex issue of trans rights and gender-critical views
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More