Scottish Greens politician Q Manivannan has ignited controversy with statements made on a podcast, where they suggested that rape exists on a spectrum and that rapists should not be demonized. Manivannan, who is trans non-binary, also described the notion of 'monster rapists' as a myth during a February 2025 recording for The Subjective Space podcast with Dr. Sindhu Rajasekaran.
Manivannan was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Edinburgh and Lothian East region in the most recent local elections. Currently on a student visa, they are in the process of securing a graduate visa or a global talent visa, which would allow them to serve a full parliamentary term in Holyrood. Without one of these visas, their term could be cut short due to restrictions on student visas that limit work hours and prevent filling permanent positions.
In the podcast, Manivannan stated, "I think our distaste towards rape is toward the idea of and the act of it, not towards the myth of this monster rapist that we've now been born to be thinking of it that way. Because there definitely is a demonisation of rape in the sense of it [rape] is a spectrum." They further elaborated, "It is a spectrum, none of which is any worse, or less or more worse, but it is a spectrum of things that constitute one homogenised word rape. And I think there's also different modes of not just consent but also context and conditions under which rape is, well, rape."
Clips from the podcast, which appears to have been removed, have circulated online, prompting widespread criticism. One commenter called Manivannan a "threat to victims" with a "warped view" for suggesting rape is a spectrum and not wanting rapists to be demonized. Another viewer stated, "This is not a nuanced academic debate. It is a sitting MSP minimising one of the most serious crimes there is." This sentiment was echoed by Scottish Labour MP Tracy Gilbert, who expressed alarm, asserting, "I am absolutely clear that there is no spectrum of rape and know that there is certainly no spectrum of suffering from the survivors of rape."
Gilbert added that survivors of rape often experience severe physical and mental injuries, shame, and isolation, with consequences felt for years. She urged the Scottish Greens MSP to retract and apologize for their comments, calling for Gillian MacKay and Ross Greer to clarify that these views do not represent Scottish Green Party policy.
Responding to the backlash, Manivannan stated that the clip was misrepresented and taken out of context. "As a survivor of sexual violence, who has spoken openly about my recovery, I am clear that we need to focus on reducing the likelihood of perpetrators of rape reoffending," they said. Manivannan clarified that their remarks on demonization meant that not all rapists fit a stereotype and that individuals known to the victim are often the perpetrators. They emphasized that victims should be believed and rapists punished, and that addressing rape and sexual violence requires tackling societal issues like male socialization.
Manivannan explained that their comment about a spectrum was intended to highlight the narrow definitions of rape and sexual violence in law, which can allow such acts to continue without consequence. They asserted that any suggestion their statements minimize or excuse rape are "deeply false and misleading," especially in a country with low conviction rates for rape. The Scottish Greens declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail.
Manivannan, originally from India, was elected after a change in law allowed foreign nationals with limited leave to remain, including those on student visas, to stand as candidates. They previously told supporters, "I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise, and I am standing here as your MSP now with care."