Q Manivannan, a recently elected Scottish Green Party MSP, has issued an apology following backlash over comments made during a podcast appearance recorded prior to taking office. During the 2023 interview on The Subjective Space, Manivannan discussed the concept of a ‘spectrum’ regarding the nature of rape, which sparked intense criticism from survivors’ advocacy groups and political rivals.
The Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance (SRCA) publicly rebuked the suggestion of a hierarchy of sexual violence, stating that rape should not be viewed through a spectrum. They emphasized that such rhetoric risks minimizing the gravity of the crime. Similarly, various political figures, including representatives from the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, condemned the remarks. Children’s Minister Siobhan Brown also described the language as misjudged.
In response to the controversy, Manivannan expressed regret for the distress caused by the circulating clips. The MSP argued that the podcast footage had been selectively edited to exclude their explicit statements asserting that every instance of rape is equally harmful. Manivannan, who disclosed being a survivor of sexual violence, affirmed their commitment to supporting victims and stated that they never intended to downplay the trauma associated with sexual assault.
