Transgender Academic Elected Scottish Green MSP

Dr. Q Manivannan, a nonbinary transgender academic from Tamil Nadu, India, was elected to the Scottish Parliament as a Scottish Green Party member representing the Edinburgh and Lothians East region in the 2026 Holyrood elections, becoming one of Scotland's first two openly transgender MSPs alongside Iris Duane, who secured a seat in Glasgow.

Manivannan, who uses they/them pronouns, moved to Scotland in 2021 on a student visa to pursue a PhD in international relations at the University of St Andrews. A Commonwealth citizen with prior studies in arts and humanities in India and peace studies in Dublin, they won the regional list seat amid the Scottish Greens' record performance, securing 15 seats overall, including gains in Edinburgh Central and Glasgow.

The election followed 2025 rule changes by the Scottish government, permitting candidates with valid visas, including Commonwealth citizens, to stand for office, a shift from prior requirements for indefinite leave to remain. All MSPs from represented parties had voted unanimously in favor of these provisions, according to Manivannan. A Scottish Parliament spokesperson confirmed that verifying candidates' qualifications falls to...