“I am genuinely sorry to everyone who has been distressed"
Scottish Green Party MSP Q Manivannan issued an apology for comments about the “demonisation” of rape.
Manivannan also faced criticism for suggesting rape is a “spectrum of things” during a podcast recorded before their election.
The comments were made during The Subjective Space podcast in 2025 and resurfaced online at the weekend.
Manivannan, who is trans non-binary, was discussing care and carers in society.
Host Sindhu Rajasekaran raised the rehabilitation of criminals and said she could have no empathy for rapists.
Manivannan discussed what they described as a “myth of the monster rapist”.
They also referred to “a demonisation of rape in the sense of it is a spectrum”.
Manivannan continued: “It is a spectrum, none of which is any less or worse, but it is a spectrum of things that constitute one homogenised word ‘rape’”.
They also argued that the image of a rapist as a “big burly man” was understandably frightening.
However, Manivannan told Rajasekaran that “any individual is capable of rape, including yourself and me, and I think that scary thought is the hardest to contend with”.
The comments attracted criticism from survivors’ groups and political opponents.
Critics accused Manivannan of downplaying the seriousness of rape and the lasting trauma experienced by survivors.
The Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance (SRCA), which represents four rape crisis centres, said there is “no hierarchy of rape”.
The alliance represents support groups in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and the Western Isles.
In an open letter, the SRCA said: “We are not demonising rape. We are naming it.”
The alliance strongly rejected the idea that rape exists on a “spectrum”.
It said “there is no hierarchy of rape” and warned against making survivors question whether their experiences were serious enough.
The letter urged politicians “not to normalise” rape or sexual violence, and “not create hierarchies of harm”.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem, also criticised the suggestion.
Although she did not name Manivannan, Alsalem said on X that rape should never be discussed as a spectrum.
The Scottish Conservatives called for the Scottish Greens to suspend Manivannan.
Meghan Gallacher, the party’s equalities spokeswoman, said:
“It is deeply alarming that anyone, but especially an elected representative, would ever seek to minimise the seriousness of rape and suggest that there is a spectrum of offences.”
In a statement issued on August 10, Manivannan said they were “horrified” that the comments had been “selectively edited in order to mislead people and misrepresent me”.
They said: “I also accept that my language was abstract in the first place and for that I take full responsibility and am sorry.”
Manivannan said they had categorically stated during the interview that every rape is equally serious and harmful.
They claimed this part of the discussion had been “maliciously” left out of clips shared online.
They added: “I recognise that the words in the clip shared, without the full context of the conversation, have caused considerable upset.
“For that I apologise. I will always stand with and for victims and survivors.”
Manivannan also said they were a survivor of sexual violence and understood the enduring trauma caused by such an experience:
“I would never seek to diminish or dismiss any survivor’s experience, or to make anyone feel that their pain was not heard or understood.
“I am genuinely sorry to everyone who has been distressed, hurt or triggered by the clips, and by the discussion and coverage that has followed.
“Words matter, particularly when speaking about something as deeply personal and painful as sexual violence, and I regret this hurt caused.”
Manivannan stated they would welcome the opportunity to meet survivor and advocacy groups.
Manivannan said they wanted to listen to their perspectives following the controversy.
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