Scottish Greens make history as first transgender MSPs elected
Q Manivannan was returned on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list, while Iris Duane secured a seat representing Glasgow
By Callum Wells
Scotland elected its first publicly transgender MSPs, with Q Manivannan and Iris Duane winning seats for the Scottish Green Party in the 2026 Holyrood election last week.
Manivannan was returned on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list, while Duane secured a seat representing Glasgow. Their election comes as the Greens recorded their strongest ever Scottish Parliament result, returning 15 MSPs overall.
The result marks the first time openly transgender politicians have been elected to the Scottish Parliament since devolution began in 1999. Manivannan, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, was born in Tamil Nadu, India, before moving to Scotland in 2021 to undertake doctoral studies at the University of St Andrews.
“Hope. All we ask for is hope” – Iris Duane responding to the result on Instagram
Duane, meanwhile, previously studied politics and social policy at the University of Glasgow and became the university’s first openly transgender sabbatical officer. She had earlier appeared on Young Women Scotland’s 30 Under 30 list and contested Glasgow North at the 2024 general election.
Responding to the result on Instagram, Iris Duane wrote: “Hope. All we ask for is hope.”
Speaking after the declaration at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre, Manivannan addressed supporters with a speech centred on identity, representation and political inclusion.
“My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them” – Manivannan speaking after the declaration
“My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them,” they said.
“I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise and I am standing here as your MSP now with care.”
Manivannan also described their election as an example of broader representation within public life, telling supporters: “They say politics is the art of the possible, a politics of care I would say expands what is possible for everyone left behind, pushed out or never invited in.”
“This is what diversity looks like in power” – Manivannan
They added: “Every barrier placed before me with the Greens was the reason also that we pushed further.
“This is what diversity looks like in power.”
Concluding the speech, Manivannan thanked their family, saying: “You showed me that home is the place you don’t have to explain yourself, and where you can believe in one another. Thank you.”
The wider Holyrood election saw the Scottish National Party remain the largest party, while Labour and Reform UK tied for second place. The Greens also won their first constituency MSPs as part of a parliament that analysts have described as one of the most politically fragmented since devolution.