Elements relating to hate speech to be shelved but gender definitions to remain despite opposition including by Michael McDowell questioning idea of legislating for ‘multiplicity of subjective genders’
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee: Laws have established 'protected characteristics' – race, colour, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, descent, gender, sex characteristics, sexual orientation and disability – and these are extended in the legislation. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The legislation provides for tougher sentences for crimes which show hatred motivated by these protected characteristics. There is some disquiet among Government TDs about being pitched into a debate about how many genders there are. The department also asked: “Does Michael McDowell believe that this person should be protected by this law, or does he believe this person should have to identify as male or female to be protected?”
“If the Government wishes to provide heavier punishment for victims of crime committed because they are victimised as transgender, let them simply say that. There is no problem with doing so. There is no case or need for creating a multiplicity of unspecified subjective statuses described as genders,” he said.
Michael-Mcdowell Department-Of-Justice
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