'A man who wears a wig': Conservative politician apologizes for 'transphobic' comments to Green Party candidate
A Conservative Party member has apologized for speaking truth after she was accused of being "transphobic" and even insulting a "minority" when she criticized a Green Party candidate.
U.K. Member of Parliament Rachel Maclean reportedly posted on X that a man who goes by the name Melissa Poulton is a "man who wears a wig and calls himself a 'proud lesbian,'" MSN reported.
She added that "while the Greens don't know what a woman is, my Worcestershire neighbours the people of Bromsgrove certainly do."
Maclean is a politician from Redditch, England, which neighbors Bromsgrove, England, in the county of Worcestershire.
Poulton was born a man and reportedly began transitioning in 2022 after 10 years in politics. It is unclear whether the transition is medical or simply self-identification. He joined the Green Party in 2020.
Nonetheless, Poulton responded that the comments about him were "childish games from a government party who’s going to be out office."
"I’m here for representation as a queer woman, as a woman with transgender experience," Poulton added.
In an interview with BBC News, Poulton said that "without a shadow of a doubt" Maclean's comments were "transphobic."
Poulton then said the member of Parliament was attacking a "minority" in reference to himself.
\u201cWithout a shadow of a doubt it is a transphobic comment.\u201d\n\nBromsgrove\u2019s @TheGreenParty candidate @melissampgp condemns Tory Deputy Chairman @redditchrachel for social media remarks about her transgender identity. \n\n#PoliticsMidlands begins at 10am on BBC1\u2026— (@)
Poulton explained his alleged minority status to Metro and said that "representation matters. Transgender people represent 0.25% of the population according to the 2021 national census."
"Transgender people deserve to be able to stand in all levels of government. I am proud to represent the Green Party in Bromsgrove."
Poulton also unironically supports a 50:50 style of Parliament, meaning equal numbers of men and women in the government.
Maclean has since deleted her post and apologized, saying she was "sorry for any offence caused. ... I believe everyone should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and to have the confidence and the freedom to be themselves."
However, she also noted that there is a "clear difference between sex and gender and I will not shy away from speaking up about those differences."
The Green Party leader in the U.K. called Maclean's remarks "deeply offensive."
The Green Party currently holds one seat in the U.K. Parliament.
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