MSP apologises for hurt caused by rape 'demonisation' comments

Scottish Green Party politician Q Manivannan has apologized for hurt caused by comments in which they discussed the "demonisation" of rape. Manivannan, who is non-binary, had suggested rape is a "spectrum of things" during a podcast before being elected to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance criticized Manivannan's comments, stating there is "no hierarchy of rape" and warning against diminishing sexual violence.

The MSP clarified that the podcast comments were selectively edited and apologized for the upset caused. Manivannan emphasized they would never seek to diminish a rape survivor's experience. The Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance urged politicians not to "normalise" rape or create hierarchies of harm, while various political parties and organizations criticized Manivannan's remarks.