Scottish Greens councillor: Women's aid 'trying to weaponise' abuse survivors

A Scottish Greens councillor has denied a plan to defund Edinburgh Women's Aid and accused experts in the sector of trying to "weaponise the needs of other minorities to exclude trans people".

Alex Staniforth named the charity in a motion to City of Edinburgh Council calling for a "review" of contracts and agreements with domestic abuse services "to make it clear that we expect services to be fully trans inclusive".

The move came after the organisation, which provides support for survivors of violence and abuse, published policies on its website which outline that its refuges and group counselling sessions are not open to transwomen and non-binary males. However, other services are open to people in these categories.

The motion also called on council leader Jane Meagher to write to Edinburgh Women's Aid, which supports more than 2,000 women and 250 children each year, "encouraging them to reverse their policy position and provide comprehensive services to trans women".

Before the meeting started, Labour councillor Meagher met with women protesting the measure outside the building. Tearful Meagher said she was "moved" by their presence and held aloft a picture of herself outside the chambers in 1977 protesting for a women's refuge. 

Meagher said: "I can't say how important it is to me to keep Edinburgh Women's Aid with women-only spaces."

She went on: "Clearly Edinburgh Women's Aid does offer appropriate support to transwomen, but I'm so proud of what we've achieved over these many, many years. Let's keep going and let's keep supporting women-only spaces."

Inside the meeting, Edinburgh Women's Aid chief executive Linda Rogers urged councillors to oppose the measures, calling Staniforth's motion a "veiled threat" to the organisation's funding and an "explicit threat" to its ability "to deliver the best, most trauma-informed and safest services to women and children affected by domestic abuse" in the city.

Rogers said the policies are in line with the UK-wide Equality Act, and highlighted that men-only homeless accommodation had not been included in Staniforth's motion. She said: "We operate a fine balance between meeting the needs and the rights of the different communities we serve, but we will always prioritise women's feelings of safety in our service provision and work in line with our trauma-informed principles."

Lesley Johnston of the Equally Safe Edinburgh Committee highlighted a rise in domestic violence reported to police, with more than 80 per cent of cases involving a male perpetrator and female victim.

They said feedback from survivors showed women from "vulnerable and minoritised communities" were most likely to self-exclude from groups including transwomen and non-binary males.

Staniforth, who identifies as non-binary, called those comments "disturbing", saying the deputation had "sought to weaponise", telling the meeting: "We've seen in America that the lack of trans people's rights and discrimination against trans people is just the start. It is the first step towards the dominance cis-het white men over all others. If any public figure in the UK stands up for trans people or tries to expand trans people's rights there are those in the media and social media who will stir up a transphobic mob against them. I have experience of this. It is nothing less than the exclusion of trans people from public life and decisions like this from Edinburgh Women's Aid only empower them."

The council voted to accept the motion, as amended by the SNP and Lib Dems, by 38 votes to 22.

The changes mean the motion stops short of a review, but calls for a briefing which will identify service gaps for trans and non-binary people.

Labour councillor Mandy Watt, who did not back the motion, said Edinburgh Women's Aid had been serving the city for 50 years. She said the deputation had already answered questions about provision for trans and non-binary people.

Watt said: "They explained how they provide the services that are needed for trans people and non-binary people alike. To continue to aver that they don't is irresponsible. What are you trying to do, stop transwomen from going to women's aid by telling them they won't be well received? That is just irresponsible. Women's aid will provide a service. They do provide a service to women and to transwomen, non-binary people alike. I can't support and suggest that they don't."