Q Manivannan, a person of Tamil Nadu origin, has been elected as an MP to the Scotland Parliament, marking a first for the legislature as a non-binary member.
The election was held recently in Scotland. Manivannan contested from the Edinburgh and Lothians East constituency on the Scottish Greens ticket and secured victory.
Campaigning with an openly stated non-binary identity, Manivannan’s win has been described as the first time a non-binary person has entered the country’s Parliament.
The report noted that a recent legal amendment in Scotland enabled even foreign nationals on short-term visas to contest elections without requiring indefinite leave to remain or permanent citizenship. This change allowed Manivannan to stand in the election.
Manivannan, who migrated to Scotland in 2021, has said the focus will be on speaking up for marginalised communities, refugees and migrants.
