Joanna Cherry explains the anti-trans Humza Yousaf tweet

Scottish National Party MSP Joanna Cherry said she had no intention of retweeting a claim that Humza Yousaf wanted to sterilize transgender and autistic children. She just wanted to comment.

In the now-deleted post, the Edinburgh quoted South West MSP Comments from Wings Over Scotland — a pro-independence blog — which claimed Yousaf “wants [sic] trans gay and autistic children, sterilize them and deprive them of sexual pleasure for their entire adult lives.”

The Wings Over Scotland tweet was created in response to a post by hopeful First Minister Yousaf outlining his plans to ban LGBTQ+ conversion therapy in the decentralized nation.

The retweet was mocked by former SNP Glasgow councilor Mhairi Hunter, a staunch Yousaf supporter, who said she would report the matter to SNP headquarters.

Hunter wrote on Twitter: “I can only assume that Joanna Cherry wants to derail this leadership contest. Can’t see any other explanation for such arson. Suggest we won’t let them. Complain to Nat[ional] sec[retary] if you are a member. I should. But let’s not get dragged into the gutter.”

However, a spokesperson for Cherry told PinkNews that the retweet was created in error when the MSP tried to engage with the original post.

“Joanna was going to comment on a tweet from Humza Yousaf and made a mistake. She corrected that error,” the spokesman said.

“The only ones trying to derail competition are those trying to prevent open debate and a free and open exchange of views. Ms Hunter can lodge a complaint with the National Secretary if she so wishes.”

The spokesman added that Cherry is still awaiting a response from the Secretary of State regarding a January 2021 complaint about Hunter.

Joanna Cherry has now posted her comments as she originally intended, above Yousaf’s post.

She wrote: “Currently #LGBT Rights are protected under the #EqualityAct along with gender rights, religion and belief of disabilities etc. In 2014 @theSNP promised to enshrine anti-discrimination laws for all protected characteristics in the constitution #indy Scotland.”

Cherry has expressed her support for Ash Regan to replace Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister. “She is clearly for equality #LGBT Humans, but anti-self ID, which allows any man to identify himself as a woman with next to no security,” she said.

Kate Forbes, who has a troubling record on trans and abortion rights, is also competing to lead the SNP.

The SNP and Humza Yousaf have been contacted by PinkNews for comment but are yet to respond.