Your Weekly Wrap Up | 17-23 Feb 💦
From Scotland’s proposed Nordic Model for sex work to France’s push for a nationwide hijab ban in sports — here’s what you need to know this week.
Self-care note: This newsletter talks about Scotland’s gender recognition reform, abortion and sex work. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day has come and gone — but conversations about relationships, sex, and justice aren’t slowing down.
This week, Scotland’s parliament proposed a bill to introduce a Nordic Model approach to sex work, sparking concerns from sex worker-led and human rights groups. The first arrest has been made under the country’s buffer zone law, just days after US Vice President JD Vance criticised the legislation on the world stage.
Meanwhile, France is facing backlash over a proposed bill that would ban all religious clothing in sports, further restricting Muslim women from participating.
It’s also Aromantic Awareness Week, and we spoke to therapist Bridge Cunningham about the realities of being aromantic and the misconceptions surrounding it.
Have a story we should cover? Submit it here. In the meantime, read on for this week’s biggest stories.
Scotland considers Nordic Model approach to sex work ⚖️
A new bill has been proposed in the Scottish Parliament that would make paying for sexual services a criminal offence while providing support for those seeking to exit the industry. This approach, known as the Nordic Model, criminalises buyers rather than sex workers themselves.
Supporters of the bill argue it will reduce exploitation and trafficking, aligning Scotland with countries such as Sweden, France, and Finland that have adopted similar laws. However, sex worker-led organisations and human rights groups warn that criminalising clients forces the industry further underground, making conditions more precarious for workers.
They argue that evidence from countries with the Nordic Model shows that while demand may decrease, sex workers face increased risks, including greater reliance on third parties, rushed screening processes, and a higher likelihood of violence.
Source: Scottish Parliament
Kwik Fit karaoke: manager disciplined for singing into customer’s sex toy 🪄
A Kwik Fit manager in Dalkeith, Midlothian, was disciplined after a video surfaced of him using a customer’s sex toy as a karaoke microphone — right in front of another customer. The company launched an internal investigation, citing a breach of privacy and trust.
A whistleblower also flagged wider issues at the Dalkeith garage, including unqualified staff carrying out services and job records being falsified. Some customers had to be contacted for work to be redone. Kwik Fit confirmed that an investigation took place and action was taken.
Source: Daily Record
First arrest under Scotland’s buffer zones law 🚫
A 74-year-old woman has become the first person in Scotland to be arrested and charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024. Police were called to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where the woman was part of a group protesting outside the facility. She was charged with breaching the 200-metre exclusion zone designed to prevent harassment near clinics.
The law, which came into effect last year, prohibits gatherings, vigils, and graphic imagery near abortion services. Supporters argue it protects public health and ensures people can access healthcare without intimidation, while opponents claim it restricts free speech. Those convicted under the law face fines of up to £10,000, with harsher penalties for serious breaches.
The arrest comes just days after US Vice President JD Vance criticised Scotland’s buffer zones law, claiming it could criminalise private prayer. The Scottish Government has dismissed his claims as misinformation, reaffirming that the law applies only to public spaces.
Source: STV
Scottish Labour reverses stance on gender reform bill 🔄
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said his party would not support the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) bill if it came to a vote today — despite having whipped MSPs to back it in 2022.
The bill aimed to simplify the process for trans people to change their legal gender, removing the medical requirement for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). The UK Government blocked the bill, citing conflicts with the Equality Act.
Sarwar now says he regrets not pushing harder for amendments, including stricter measures for sex offenders, and has pledged support for a nurse involved in a legal dispute over single-sex spaces in the NHS.
Source: The National
New law proposed to make spiking a criminal offence 🍸
The UK government has announced plans to make spiking a standalone criminal offence, with proposed legislation carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. While spiking — drugging or intoxicating someone without their knowledge — is already illegal under existing laws, campaigners have pushed for a dedicated offence to improve prevention, enforcement, and victim support.
The proposed law will be included in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, set to be introduced in Parliament next week. Alongside the bill, the government has launched a £250,000 training programme aiming to equip 10,000 venue staff with the skills to identify and respond to spiking by April 2025.
Last year, police in England and Wales recorded over 6,700 spiking reports, with cases continuing to rise. Home Office Minister Jess Phillips described the proposed law as a crucial step towards reducing violence against women and girls.
Source: Politics Joe
Autistic people face barriers in maternity care 🍼
Still largely underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed, very little research has been conducted on autistic people assigned female at birth and their needs are often unmet.
This is especially true in maternity services, where autistic people feel unheard, misunderstood and unsupported, according to a new study. Researchers urge UK maternity services to receive appropriate training and become more aware of autistic people’s needs.
Source: The Conversation UK
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Thailand’s TV drama paves the way for more sapphic love stories 👩🏻🤝👩🏽
A new study has found that romances between women are growing in popularity in Asia and beyond, following years of success of TV dramas centered on love stories between men.
This shift is largely due to Gap, the first series in Thailand to focus on a sapphic love story, which premiered in 2022. Gap quickly gained an international fanbase and helped spark the rise of so-called Girls Love dramas, with over 20 shows aired and around 30 currently in production.
Researchers believe that Girls Love stories could pave the way for more diverse queer representations, offering a broader range of sapphic love stories.
Source: Lancaster University
Black women less likely to receive same-day biopsies than white women 👩🏿
A retrospective study found that Black women, particularly those from lower income households, are less likely to receive a same-day biopsy after an abnormal mammogram result.
The US study was conducted on more than 1.1 million patients and over 3.5 million screening mammograms collected from January 2010 to December 2020.
Researchers emphasised the stress of undergoing a mammogram and then waiting for a biopsy after an abnormal result, and also call for reducing the time between screening and potential treatment.
Source: News-Medical.Net
The increase of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws threatens fundamental rights, says new report
A new report by ILGA-Europe reveals that governments are increasingly passing laws that restrict the inclusion and fundamental rights of LGBTQIA+ people.
At the same time, hate speech against LGBTQIA+ people has been normalised and hate crimes have increased significantly.
Campaigners warn that scapegoating LGBTQIA+ people is the first step towards attacking democracy and the rights and freedoms of everyone.
Source: ILGA-Europe
France considers full hijab ban in sports ⚽
French lawmakers are debating a bill that would ban all religious clothing in sports competitions, including the hijab, expanding on existing restrictions for athletes. The move comes just months after France’s ban on hijabs in the Paris Olympics drew international backlash.
Supporters claim the law upholds France’s secularism policy, but human rights groups argue it targets and excludes Muslim women from sport. Amnesty International warns the ban will fuel Islamophobia, worsen gender discrimination, and violate religious freedoms. Activists say it could force hijab-wearing athletes to choose between their faith and their sport.
The bill is being debated this week in the French Senate. A similar attempt was rejected in 2022, but with growing political support for stricter secularism laws, campaigners are urging international sporting bodies to take a stand.
Source: Amnesty International
What gave you the ick?
After analysing dozens of videos on TikTok and interviewing 125 singles, a team of psychologists has compiled a list of reasons that can give the ick.
Described as ‘a sudden, visceral aversion to a romantic partner’, the ick can result from behaviour that differs from gender expectations, embarrassing moments in public, and physical quirks. Women are more likely to get the ick because of misogynistic behaviour and annoying conversations.
Although it may be a sign of incompatibility, researchers believe that in some cases the ick can also be the result of unrealistic expectations.
Source: Deutsche Welle
First out gay imam fatally shot in South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks, widely believed to be the world’s first openly gay imam, was shot and killed in Gqeberha, South Africa. Hendricks, who founded Cape Town’s Al-Ghurbaah mosque as a safe space for LGBTQ+ Muslims, was in a car when two masked attackers opened fire before fleeing the scene.
While police say the motive remains unclear, LGBTQ+ activists fear the attack was targeted. South Africa’s Justice Ministry has launched an investigation into whether his murder was an assassination linked to his advocacy. Hendricks, who came out in 1996, faced significant backlash throughout his life for challenging mainstream interpretations of Islam and creating spaces for queer Muslims. Despite receiving threats, he remained committed to his work, once stating: “The need to be authentic is greater than the fear to die.”
Source: The Guardian
That’s all for this week’s wrap up, but plenty is happening beyond the headlines. From workshops to book clubs, here’s what’s coming up across Scotland.
Ever needed to speak up but didn’t know how? Join our advocacy workshop
Join us in Glasgow for an empowering and interactive workshop designed to help women enhance their advocacy skills! Hosted by Pillow Talk Scotland in collaboration with She Advocates Society, this session is all about equipping you with the tools to stand up for yourself and others — no matter the topic at hand.
Other spicy (and cuddly) events happening soon🌶️
Desire Paths: Reading Queer Edinburgh. 19-25 February, Edinburgh.
Sex Positive Reading Group (chapter-only). 25 February, Glasgow.
Look, Don’t Touch book launch. 25 February, Edinburgh.
Sapphic-centred Sex Ed Talk. 25 February, Glasgow.
Feminist Book Club. 11 March, Glasgow.