Rhona Hotchkiss, former prisons Governor, says if Self ID passes, Scottish prisons will not be able to refuse transwomen's requests to move to the female estate, and we will find ourselves in the same situation as Ireland (where male sex offenders are in women's prisons)

Now detailing how a violent transwoman in a women's prison led to the traumatisation of a female prisoner, who was doing amazingly well in her recovery, was a mentor to other prisoners, but then relapsed, due to how this triggered her history of being the victim of male violence.

Also detailing sexual harassment, such as transwomen deliberately walking around with visible erections. Mentioning how the Scottish Trans Alliance wanted vulnerable female populations such as women's prisons targeted for self ID policies, as a strategy.

Now noting staff issues, Rhona has been contacted by men and women working in prisons, they are distressed due to the distress & trauma they have witnessed among women prisoners due to transwomen being housed there (due to their sex, not due to their identity).

One young female officer said how distressed she had been when she had to strip search a fully male bodied transwoman - this was the first time she had seen a male person naked.

Speaking now about her involvement with the LGB Alliance, and how lesbians are being impacted by the idea that defining their sexual orientation as being same-sex attracted is transphobic. And the smears being made by SNP politicians to discredit such orgs & women.

Noting that the voices of detransitioners are completely marginalised by orgs like Stonewall, often young & vulnerable ppl, despite it becoming increasingly clear that when left alone young ppl usually grow out of dysphoria & many are LGB (so also issues re conversion therapy).

It's now against the law in Victoria, Australia, to do anything other than affirm trans identifying children in their identity, despite the high rates of autism, mental health issues, past abuse issues etc. And this is being highlighted as best practice by some in our parliament.

Some SNP politicians have been clear that they would consider all male boards/panels/suchlike as 'gender balanced' so long as half of them identify as women.

Rhona saying trans people have been trying to remove her from a board she left two years ago. Highlighting the attacks on women who speak up about the clear, obvious & predictable problems with male inclusion in female spaces, & with the homophobia of trans activism.

Now calling for investment in mental health services for dysphoric children, where what is behind their dysphoria can be fully explored & they can receive the right support, and where children do not have to wait for months to be seen.

Emotionally calling for Alba to become a beacon of hope for women in Scotland. Rhona's speech has been recorded and will be 'released in time'.

Questions now. Rhona being clear there needs to be an easy and safe way for staff and prisoners to put forward their concerns. Is not sure their union will speak up for women who do not wish to perform strip searches on males.

Noting the Howard League have huge concerns around what is happening in prisons, and support trans specific housing arrangements in prisons so they are not housed with women/the opposite sex, Rhona agrees with this (so do I, it is the obvious solution).

Rhona saying prison Governor's in Scotland can't currently refuse transwomen moving to the female estate just because they are male, & also trans people cannot be held in isolation for more than 72 hours (inhumane anyway), so if in women's prison they are living alongside women.

A former prisoner comments to say thanks to Rhona for helping her when in prison and housed with two transwomen, which she found extremely distressing (again, due to sex not identity).

Rhona saying most trans prisoners don't have GRCs not least because most did not previously identify as trans.

#AlbaWomen