For the first time in its history, the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood will include two openly transgender lawmakers following Scotland’s 2026 parliamentary election. The milestone comes as the Scottish Greens posted some of their strongest results to date, helping reshape a rapidly changing political landscape in Scotland.
The newly elected MSPs are Q Manivannan and Iris Duane, both representing the Scottish Greens through the regional list system.
Manivannan, who identifies as a “transgender Tamil immigrant” and uses they/them pronouns, was elected in the Edinburgh and Lothians region. During the election count, they described the victory as a sign of what “diversity looks like” in political power.
Duane, elected on the Glasgow regional list, also made history as one of Holyrood’s first openly transgender women MSPs. Her election arrives during an especially tense political climate surrounding transgender rights in the United Kingdom, including ongoing debates over access to public spaces, legal recognition, and healthcare.
The Scottish Greens celebrated the breakthrough as part of a wider electoral surge. The party secured representation in every Scottish region for the first time and won multiple constituency seats, marking one of the strongest performances in its history.
The broader election results left Scotland with a fractured parliament. The Scottish National Party remained the largest party with 58 seats but fell short of an outright majority. Reform UK made major gains through regional lists, while Labour suffered setbacks across several parts of Scotland.
The election of two transgender MSPs is already drawing strong reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters view the outcome as an important step toward broader LGBTQ+ representation in government. Critics and conservative commentators have instead focused attention on past social media posts and eligibility questions surrounding the candidates.
Still, advocates say the symbolism of openly transgender lawmakers serving in Holyrood matters at a time when transgender people across the UK continue facing heightened political scrutiny and increasingly hostile public debate.
The incoming parliament is expected to be one of the most ideologically divided in Holyrood’s history, with progressive Greens and right-wing Reform UK both expanding their influence significantly.
