By Chris Matthews and Madeleine Ross

23:24 20 Feb 2023, updated 00:19 21 Feb 2023

SNP frontrunner Kate Forbes called trans double rapist Isla Bryson ‘a man’ as she revealed she wouldn’t have voted for gay marriage a decade ago. 

The lead candidate for First Minister, the 32-year-old politician has been vocal about her concerns about the Scottish government’s controversial gender self-ID laws.  

Ms Forbes said: ‘No rapist can be a woman. Isla Bryson is a man,’ in an interview yesterday as she signalled that she wouldn’t continue legal action against the Westminster veto of the Scottish gender self-ID law. 

Questions of gender identity have haunted the final weeks of Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership as she repeatedly stumbled over questions about the double rapist’s sex. 

The finance secretary, 32, who is known to hold socially conservative views, also said in an interview that she would not have backed the legislation to make gay marriage legal but would have ‘respected and defended the democratic choice that was made’. 

SNP lead candidate Kate Forbes (pictured) said she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland at the time it was made legal almost a decade ago Isla Bryson – formerly known as Andrew Graham – pictured outside court in Glasgow in January. Nicola Sturgeon has dodged questions about the convicted rapist’s gender identity

The Telegraph reported that the frontrunner said the gender legislation was ‘not a priority right now’ for Scotland, distancing herself from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

‘I would be strongly minded not to proceed with that court challenge [against Westminster], subject to legal advice and so on. 

Read more: How outgoing leader’s ruthless ambition brought Scotland to the brink of independence before a series of scandals

‘I would much rather engage in discussion with the UK Government about the amendments that need to be made than proceed with the challenge.’

Ms Forbes previously said she would not have voted for the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in its current form. 

As she was on maternity leave, she did not participate in the final vote before the new year, but has been clear on her opposition since 2019.

She was one of 15 SNP politicians who publicly called on her party to delay the controversial proposals which make it easier for transgender people to self-identify as their chosen gender. 

She said: ‘My concerns about self-ID have been well documented and I would have continued to have those concerns about self-ID. 

‘It’s very difficult to talk hypothetically when it comes to a Bill but I think I would have struggled to support that self-ID element of the Gender Recognition Act.’ 

However, if she had voted against it, she would have been required to leave her position as Finance Secretary.

The comments come as Ms Forbes yesterday made clear her stance on gay marriage, as her religion and socially conservative views cause concern with some SNP voters. 

Equal marriage was made legal in Scotland in 2014 with an overwhelming majority of 105 votes to 18, while Ms Forbes was not elected to Holyrood until the 2016 election. 

Nicola Sturgeon dropped the bombshell that she is quitting last week, after a torrid spell where the SNP slid into chaos over its abortive bid to loosen gender identity rules and dwindling support for independence Humza Yousaf, 37, (pictured) is the Scottish Government’s health secretary, who became Scotland’s first Muslim Cabinet minister in 2018, when he was appointed justice secretary

Who is Humza Yousaf? 

Humza Yousaf, 37, is the Scottish Government’s health secretary, who became Scotland’s first Muslim Cabinet minister in 2018, when he was appointed justice secretary.

He has been MSP for Glasgow Pollok since 2016, having previously been elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional member for the Glasgow region in 2011 at the age of just 26.

Despite being tipped as a possible replacement for Ms Sturgeon as First Minister, Mr Yousaf’s chances could be harmed by the current health crisis in Scotland.

He has come under particular pressure over long waiting times for ambulances and emergency care.

Mr Yousaf has a daughter and a stepchild with his second wife Nadia El-Nakla. 

Talking to The Scotsman, Ms Forbes, who has been on maternity leave and away from frontline politics since early summer last year, said she would not have supported equal marriage as a ‘matter of conscience’ if she had been a member of parliament at the time.

She cited the example of Angela Merkel as a leader who voted on the matter ‘with her conscience’.

She said: ‘I would have voted, as a matter of conscience, along the lines of mainstream teaching in most major religions that marriage is between a man and a woman. 

‘But I would have respected and defended the democratic choice that was made. 

‘It is a legal right now and I am a servant of democracy, I am not a dictator.’ 

After giving her views on gay marriage, the Scottish Health Secretary and SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf, 37, said in an interview that he would not legislate on the basis of his faith. 

Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC on Monday, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I’m a supporter of equal marriage. 

‘Let me get to the crux of the issue that you’re asking me. I’m a Muslim. I’m somebody who’s proud of my faith. 

‘I’ll be fasting during Ramadan in a few weeks’ time. 

‘But what I don’t do is, I don’t use my faith as a basis of legislation. 

‘What I do as a representative, as a leader, as a Member of the Scottish Parliament is my job is to bring forward policy and pursue it in the best interest of the country.’

Ms Forbes also condemned the ‘illiberal discourse’ around her faith and how her religious views could impact her decisions as First Minister. 

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland and had previously said her faith did not impact her ability to serve as an MSP. 

Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes swiped at the need to ‘widen’ the SNP’s appeal as she confirmed she is a candidate

She said: ‘It is quite an illiberal discourse. 

‘Because if we get into the territory of suggesting that anyone who holds public office is to be barred to people of faith, then it sends a very bad signal to the countless people of faith and no faith in Scotland today.’ 

Earlier, Ms Forbes committed to ensuring women are free from harassment and fear around abortion clinics following a plea from campaigners. 

She said women should not ‘be subjected to fear and harassment’ when attending clinics across the country. 

It comes as campaigners Back Off Scotland wrote to Ms Forbes – and her opponents in the leadership race Mr Yousaf and Ash Regan – to ask for support in implementing 150-metre safe access zones around hospitals administering abortions. 

She said: ‘I would say that I certainly don’t think that women going for an abortion should be subjected to fear and harassment. 

‘And so, I’d be willing to work with Gillian Mackay who is introducing the Bill.’

Who is SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes is a leading member of Ms Sturgeon’s administration who is being tipped as the favourite to replace her.

The fluent Gaelic speaker became the Scottish government’s finance secretary in February 2020, the first woman to hold the post.

Kate Forbes married Alasdair MacLennan – a widower chimney sweep 10 years her senior – in July 2021.

Her husband, known as Ali, had three daughters – Rachael, Rebekah and Zara – with his Indian first wife Priya. She died in 2014, aged just 38.

Ms Forbes, 32, went on maternity leave last July – the first ever serving Scottish Cabinet secretary to do so – and gave birth to her daughter Naomi in August.

The daughter of missionaries, Ms Forbes spent much of her childhood in India.

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, sometimes known as the ‘Wee Frees’, which is opposed to gay marriage and believes there are few circumstances in which abortion is justified.

Ms Sturgeon’s government was accused of rushing through its controversial gender identity reforms before Christmas, while Ms Forbes remained on maternity leave, in order to prevent a potential revolt by the 32-year-old. 

The post SNP frontrunner Kate Forbes distances herself from Sturgeon by calling trans Isla Bryson a ‘MAN, appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline

09:10 21 Feb 2023, updated 11:39 21 Feb 2023

SNP hopeful Kate Forbes today apologised for causing ‘pain or hurt’ by saying she would not have voted for gay marriage. 

The Scottish Finance Minister asked for ‘forgiveness’ as she desperately tries to save her bid to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Forbes had been regarded as the front runner – but appears to have crashed within hours of formally declaring her intentions, with allies admitting she has ‘f***ed it up’. 

The meltdown leaves Health Secretary Humza Yousaf as the favourite to take over from Ms Sturgeon. 

Ms Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland who cut short maternity leave to join the contest, faced a backlash after insisting that she views marriage as between a man and a woman.

The 32-year-old said she would have voted against same-sex marriage if she had been an MSP at the time, but stressed she would defend people’s rights under the law as it stands. 

A series of MSPs announced they were dropping their support afterwards, along with Westminster MP Drew Hendry. But in a round of interviews this morning, Ms Forbes denied her campaign was effectively over, and said she had not intended to offend anyone.

‘I regret enormously the pain or hurt that has been caused because that was neither my intention, and I would seek forgiveness if that is how it’s come across,’ she told Times Radio.

‘I regret enormously the pain or hurt that has been caused because that was neither my intention, and I would seek forgiveness if that is how it’s come across.’

Ms Forbes added that she defends the rights of LGBT+ people to live ‘free of harassment, fear and prejudice’.

However, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Ms Forbes reiterated that she would have opposed same-sex marriage. She compared her position to that of Angela Merkel, who agreed to a vote on the issue, opposed the change, but then implemented the will of the German Parliament. 

SNP lead candidate Kate Forbes (pictured yesterday) said she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland at the time it was made legal almost a decade ago The meltdown leaves Health Secretary Humza Yousaf as the favourite to take over from Ms Sturgeon

Challenged on the BBC that her campaign was all-but finished, Ms Forbes said: ‘Absolutely not. We have a large party membership, most of whom are not on Twitter.

‘I understand people have very strong views on these matters. I think the public are longing for politicians to answer straight questions with straight answers and that’s certainly what I’ve tried to do in the media yesterday. That doesn’t necessarily allow for much nuance.

‘My position on these matters is that I will defend to the hilt everybody’s rights in a pluralistic and tolerant society, to live and to love free of harassment and fear.’

Equal marriage was made legal in Scotland in 2014 with an overwhelming majority of 105 votes to 18, while Ms Forbes was not elected to Holyrood until the 2016 election. 

Ms Forbes previously said she would not have voted for the Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in its current form. 

As she was on maternity leave, she did not participate in the final vote before the new year, but has been clear on her opposition since 2019.

She was one of 15 SNP politicians who publicly called on her party to delay the controversial proposals which make it easier for transgender people to self-identify as their chosen gender. 

She said: ‘My concerns about self-ID have been well documented and I would have continued to have those concerns about self-ID. 

Read more: How outgoing leader’s ruthless ambition brought Scotland to the brink of independence before a series of scandals

‘It’s very difficult to talk hypothetically when it comes to a Bill but I think I would have struggled to support that self-ID element of the Gender Recognition Act.’ 

However, if she had voted against it, she would have been required to leave her position as Finance Secretary.

In another controversial intervention, Ms Forbes said the convicted transgender rapist who was initially placed in a female jail ‘is a man’.

Ms Sturgeon previously dodged questions over whether Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, is a woman after the 31-year-old was found guilty of two sex attacks.

But speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mrs Forbes said unequivocally that ‘no rapist can be a woman’ and that ‘Isla Bryson is a man’.

Mrs Forbes also accused her opponents of attacking her over her Christian beliefs ‘rather than competence, experience or vision’.

She said: ‘We need to be very careful that we are not saying in Scotland that you cannot hold public office, even the highest public office, if you are a member of a particular faith.

‘Or, you can hold public office, but you actually need to strip your faith out. That seems to me a very illiberal approach.

She added: ‘My approach is I’ve been open about faith, the influence of faith in my life.

‘But we appear to be able to have a Hindu in Number 10, is it beyond the pale to think we might have a Christian in Bute House?’

‘I would much rather engage in discussion with the UK Government about the amendments that need to be made than proceed with the challenge.’

Nicola Sturgeon dropped the bombshell that she is quitting last week, after a torrid spell where the SNP slid into chaos over its abortive bid to loosen gender identity rules and dwindling support for independence Isla Bryson – formerly known as Andrew Graham – pictured outside court in Glasgow in January

Who is Humza Yousaf? 

Humza Yousaf, 37, is the Scottish Government’s health secretary, who became Scotland’s first Muslim Cabinet minister in 2018, when he was appointed justice secretary.

He has been MSP for Glasgow Pollok since 2016, having previously been elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional member for the Glasgow region in 2011 at the age of just 26.

Despite being tipped as a possible replacement for Ms Sturgeon as First Minister, Mr Yousaf’s chances could be harmed by the current health crisis in Scotland.

He has come under particular pressure over long waiting times for ambulances and emergency care.

Mr Yousaf has a daughter and a stepchild with his second wife Nadia El-Nakla. 

Talking to The Scotsman, Ms Forbes, who has been on maternity leave and away from frontline politics since early summer last year, said she would not have supported equal marriage as a ‘matter of conscience’ if she had been a member of parliament at the time.

She cited the example of Angela Merkel as a leader who voted on the matter ‘with her conscience’.

She said: ‘I would have voted, as a matter of conscience, along the lines of mainstream teaching in most major religions that marriage is between a man and a woman. 

‘But I would have respected and defended the democratic choice that was made. 

‘It is a legal right now and I am a servant of democracy, I am not a dictator.’ 

Ms Forbes also condemned the ‘illiberal discourse’ around her faith and how her religious views could impact her decisions as First Minister. 

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland and had previously said her faith did not impact her ability to serve as an MSP. 

Mr Yousaf said he will ‘always fight for the equal rights of others’.

Asked what he thought of what Ms Forbes had to say on same sex marriage, Mr Yousaf told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: ‘It’s for her to defend her views, I’ve made my views very clear.

‘I think my track record on equality issues speaks loud and clear.

‘I’m a minority in this country, I have been my entire life and my rights don’t exist in some kind of vacuum, my rights are interdependent on other people’s rights and therefore I believe very firmly, in fact with every fibre in my being, that your equality is my equality, therefore I’ll always fight for the equal rights of others regardless of who they are.’

Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes swiped at the need to ‘widen’ the SNP’s appeal as she confirmed she is a candidate

Who is SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes is a leading member of Ms Sturgeon’s administration who is being tipped as the favourite to replace her.

The fluent Gaelic speaker became the Scottish government’s finance secretary in February 2020, the first woman to hold the post.

Kate Forbes married Alasdair MacLennan – a widower chimney sweep 10 years her senior – in July 2021.

Her husband, known as Ali, had three daughters – Rachael, Rebekah and Zara – with his Indian first wife Priya. She died in 2014, aged just 38.

Ms Forbes, 32, went on maternity leave last July – the first ever serving Scottish Cabinet secretary to do so – and gave birth to her daughter Naomi in August.

The daughter of missionaries, Ms Forbes spent much of her childhood in India.

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, sometimes known as the ‘Wee Frees’, which is opposed to gay marriage and believes there are few circumstances in which abortion is justified.

Ms Sturgeon’s government was accused of rushing through its controversial gender identity reforms before Christmas, while Ms Forbes remained on maternity leave, in order to prevent a potential revolt by the 32-year-old. 

The post SNP hopeful Kate Forbes struggles to save lots of bid to succeed Nicola Sturgeon appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Kate DeWitt knows a thing or two about how to make a small space sing. As the twenty-something founder of her own interior design firm, she’s managed to turn her 400-square-foot studio apartment into a charming oasis filled with meaningful art and furniture, eye-catching textiles, and beautiful vintage accessories. “Interior design has always been my north star,” said Kate, whose passion for planning and decorating spaces started when she was a child.

Read on for a full home tour of Kate’s light-filled space. The San Francisco designer spills all the details about the special heirloom items in her apartment, home decor retailers she frequents, and the paper- and fabric-wrapped picture frames she can’t stop making.

Kate DeWitt’s Vintage-Filled Apartment Tour

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

The Details:

Name: Kate DeWitt
Location: San Francisco
Square Footage: 400
Rent/Own: Rent

You’re originally from the Bay Area—did you always know that you wanted to end up in San Francisco as an adult? How long have you lived in the city?

I have lived in San Francisco for the last five years or so. Growing up in the suburbs just outside of the city, I always intended to move to San Francisco after graduating from college. I would love to live in another part of the U.S. at some point, but at this point in my life, San Francisco is pretty hard to beat.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

What led you to pursue interior design as a career? Did you always enjoy redecorating your room as a kid, or did your interest in design come later in life?

I remember going over to friends’ houses in elementary school and being so fascinated by how other families decorated their homes. I studied the Pottery Barn Teen catalog each season, spent hours rearranging my doll house, and stole my dad’s graph paper to dream up imaginary floor plans. My childhood bedroom had so many different iterations over the years, it’s hard to keep track!

Then, during my senior year of high school, I took part in an independent study project where students got to choose their subject for the entire semester. I, of course, chose interior design. So at 17, I landed my first design internship with a family friend and got a taste of the professional design world. That experience was definitely the catalyst for everything I’m doing now.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

We hear you recently expanded your team—congrats on the new hires! What has been the most rewarding part about running your own design business? What about the most challenging?

Thank you! I hired my amazing design assistant in January and just brought on my very talented CAD consultant this spring. I trust and respect them both immensely, which I have found to be the key to a successful working relationship. Leading the KDD team has helped me with consistency—and procrastination, which has always been one of my challenges. As a creative person, I constantly find myself abandoning one project to start another. But having weekly check-ins with my team has forced me to stay on track and complete one task before starting the next.

The most rewarding part about running my own business has been the freedom. I spent five years in the 9-to-5 world and remember feeling so much anxiety about asking for time off, scheduling personal appointments, or even committing to after-work social plans. It never felt right to have to ask my superiors permission in order to do regular life things. Being in charge of my own schedule is something I hope I never take for granted.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

How would you describe your design style? Where do you draw your inspiration from, both when it comes to your own home and working with clients?

My personal style is constantly evolving, but I always find myself coming back to words like cozy, eclectic, minimal, and feminine. Travel is a huge source of inspiration for me, and I am constantly daydreaming about my next European adventure. I tend to hone in on different cultural aesthetics every season, and they inevitably inform my creative pursuits. Right now, all I can think about is Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. Earlier this year, I was fascinated with everything about French culture, and before that, my mind was consumed with Indian block prints and colorful South Asian architecture. Routine and normalcy can often stifle creativity, and I’ve found that experiencing different places and cultures (even if it’s just on Pinterest!) is the most effective way to shake things up for the better.

In my work, I am inspired by the diversity of my clients. In this age of Instagram, it can feel like everyone’s home looks the same, and I think that’s such a shame! Because of this, I start each project by analyzing my client’s unique personal style and studying what they are naturally drawn to. From there, I’m able to use their individual style as a base layer and build from that. I often find myself latching onto fun stories my clients share about family antiques, sentimental pieces, or personal interests, and I have fun designing their space around that. Home is such a personal thing, and I want my clients to walk away with a space that feels true to them with a hint of the Kate DeWitt Design aesthetic sprinkled in, not the other way around.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

As an interior designer, you’re constantly keeping tabs on design trends and new products. Do you often feel the urge to redecorate your own home? 

Oh gosh, I feel the urge to redecorate all the time! But as I’ve gotten older, I try to do it with as much intention as I can. As a kid, I was constantly dreaming about buying new things for my room. When I started making my own money as a teen, I would quite literally buy things just to buy them. But eventually, I learned these shiny new things usually didn’t hold any real value for me in the long term. Nowadays, I’m much more intentional with my home purchases.

When thinking about making a significant purchase, I’ll ask myself one question: “Can you envision this working in your next apartment/house?” If the answer is no, then I won’t buy it. For me, it’s all about longevity. In 50 years, I fully intend on being a cool grandma with a cozy house full of interesting treasures I’ve collected over a lifetime. So I’m starting now!

What do you enjoy most about your current apartment? 

The natural light is what first attracted me to my apartment. Studios can often feel small and dungeon-like, so when I toured this place it felt like a needle in a haystack. My windows are fairly low to the ground, measuring about 24 inches off my floor, and each one is complemented with beautiful molding on all four sides. Something about the oversized scale and detailing creates a charming and timeless feel that I fell in love with.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

We’d love to hear more about the architectural features in your apartment. We’ve spotted wood floors, original door knobs, wainscoting, and more—how do you highlight these features or design around them?

Luckily, all of the architectural features in my apartment are very in line with my personal style, so designing around them hasn’t been an issue. There are many different ways to highlight these kinds of features in an old apartment like mine: paint, wallpaper, custom hardware, just to name a few. But I made the intentional choice to let the features shine in their most natural form. I left my walls, wainscoting, and molding white and chose to highlight with artwork, lighting, and accessories instead.

One of my biggest splurges was a 1920s crystal chandelier for my entryway. It elevates the other original features in my apartment, and it looks like it came with the apartment… but I will most definitely be taking it with me when I move out!

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

Can you tell us about the secretary desk that was passed down from your great-great-grandmother?

My grandparents’ house is full of old family treasures, and I came across this craftsman-style secretary desk one Sunday afternoon while visiting. It was purchased in 1906 when my great-great-grandmother Amelia emigrated from Austria to San Francisco with her three children. She was a short woman (just like me) and this secretary desk was the perfect size for her petite frame. As the story goes, it was one of the first pieces of furniture she bought for her new American life, and she was very proud to own it until the day she died.

When my grandfather told me the story behind the desk, he beamed with pride remembering his beloved grandmother, and when I asked him if I could take it back to my apartment, he beamed even brighter. My grandfather passed away earlier this year, so having this special desk in my home reminds me of him every day.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

You always seem to have plenty of fresh flowers in your home! What are some other little luxuries that can make a space feel more welcoming and complete?

I do my best to incorporate little “signs of life” wherever I can in my apartment. Flowers, candles, and houseplants are my go-to ways to create that sense of livability. I also think having a well-stocked kitchen is an underrated way to add that sense of warmth. As a single woman, I’m usually only cooking for one, which can be tricky with food waste and whatnot. Because of this, I used to find myself with a near-empty fridge, ordering take-out most weeks. But recently, I’ve adopted a more liberal approach to my weekly grocery store runs, letting myself stock up on beautiful veggies, grains, and proteins. Not only has it improved my eating habits, but also made my little apartment feel so much more homey throughout the week.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

What tips do you have to keep a space feeling fresh and new even if it’s small in size?

I think small changes to your home decor can make a big difference in the day-to-day. Whenever I’m feeling bored with my apartment decor, I do small things to scratch my redecorating inch. For example, I might rearrange couch pillows, change up how I make my bed, stack coffee table books in a different order, buy a new scented candle for my coffee table, or play musical chairs with my many table lamps. I also love the idea of refreshing small accents in your space every season. Things like kitchen towels, bed quilts, and throw pillows don’t have to be extremely expensive but have the power to change the entire feel of your space.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

What are some touches to add to a rental unit so that it truly feels like a home?

No matter what size your windows are, I’m a big proponent of window coverings. Roman shades or drapes have the power to turn an ordinary window into a cozy statement wall. If you want to go one step further, try introducing different textures. This will amp up the homey feel while also adding visual interest and depth. For example, jute Roman shades paired with linen drapes. Or velvet drapes styled next to a cotton upholstered sofa. Too much of the same texture in a room can start to feel flat so try mixing things up where you can!

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

We love how you’ve curated the gallery wall beside your bed. How did you go about selecting these pieces? 

My bedside gallery wall took a lot of trial and error! I was very anxious to complete it, but I also didn’t want to pressure myself into selecting all the pieces at once. I wanted to go beyond just buying a handful of pretty framed prints to cluster on the wall. Instead, I decided to feature personal keepsakes, family memories, and DIY projects. A few favorite features on my gallery wall are an oversized postcard I found while studying abroad in London, a vintage photo of my great grandparents riding an elephant on vacation found in my grandparent’s basement, and a framed French bandana I wore all throughout college. All these things don’t necessarily relate to one another, but when hung side by side, they tell a unique story.

I think an interesting gallery wall should take a while to curate and evolve over time. You’re never going to get it right in one go and that’s the fun of it! 

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

Where do you purchase most of your art?

I tend to mix flea market frames and vintage finds with more modern pieces to create a sense of texture. My go-to “modern” vendors are Artfully Walls, Hôtel Magique, and The Poster Club.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

Can you share a bit about your walk-in closet? The space is small, but you’ve done a great job maximizing the space and making it reflect your personality with wallpaper, artwork, and more.

I have always dreamed about having an ultra-feminine walk-in closet. So when I moved into this apartment, I was very excited to turn my new closet—a boring white box—into a cozy dressing area. I first added a peel-and-stick wallpaper to create a sense of texture and add some much-needed color. Then I found a small vintage rug on Etsy to make the space feel inviting and homey. Once the wallpaper and rug were in, I still felt like something was missing, so I started playing around with hanging old frames and prints on a big blank wall that served no purpose otherwise. This is when the space really started to take shape and feel extra special. I hung a photo of my great-grandmother for whom I’m named, along with a few small flea market finds that needed a home.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

Finally, the space needed a major mirror update. I’m usually not a huge fan of an entire mirrored wall, but after using the closet for a few months, I knew that was exactly what the space needed. So I saved up money and commissioned a custom mirror to sit on one entire wall of the closet right above my dresser. Just this small change absolutely transformed the feel of the space, making it feel larger and more luxurious.

Now even after all that, I still don’t feel like my closet is complete! I’d love to mirror one more wall and add soft mood lighting, among other things. But just like most of my home projects, the process of what I enjoy the most!

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

What are some of your favorite lesser-known home retailers that offer stylish goods for reasonable prices? Where do you enjoy shopping for home decor locally?

France & Son offers affordable alternatives to classic lighting designs, and I am really impressed with what Zara Home is offering at the moment. But my all-time favorite affordable vendors will always be Etsy, eBay, and my local flea market. Not only are the prices usually more affordable than a mass-marketed chain, but you’re also getting a unique one-of-a-kind piece.

The San Francisco Bay Area has so many lovely home decor stores that it can be overwhelming! Whenever friends come to visit, here’s where I send them: MARCH, Anyon Atelier, Hudson Grace, and Heath Ceramics. If you’re willing to venture across the Golden Gate Bridge, Downtown Mill Valley is littered with charming home decor storefronts, Summerhouse being my favorite.

Source: Kate DeWitt Design | Photo by Pat DeWitt

Tell us about the paper-covered picture frames in your apartment! What led you to create these and ultimately sell them to others?

I was scrolling Instagram one day and saw one of my favorite home decor accounts, @shannonclaire, post a DIY paper-wrapped picture frame that she’d created. I am a sucker for any sort of tangible craft project, and I just happened to have some empty frames collecting dust under my bed. So one Sunday afternoon, I rolled up my sleeves and got crafting. Over the next few days, I had so much fun finding unique paper, experimenting with different wrapping/gluing techniques, and documenting the process on my Instagram. To my surprise, I got a lot of interest from my followers and even a few offers to purchase. So I took the idea and ran with it!

Now I sell paper- and fabric-wrapped frames on my website and even take on custom commissions here and there. Last month, I hosted my first frame-wrapping workshop which sold out in 48 hours! It was so fun to see all my guests have as much fun as I did watching their first wrapped frame come to life. I have another in-person workshop scheduled for July 23rd here in SF, and tickets are available on my website! It’s been such a fun side venture, and I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve over time.

This Chic City Apartment Proves That 450 Square Feet Doesn’t Have to Limit Style

The post Kate DeWitt’s Charming San Francisco House Tour appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Von David Wilcock, stellvertretender politischer Redakteur und James Tapsfield, politischer Redakteur bei Mailonline

18:26 21. Februar 2023, aktualisiert 01:42 22. Februar 2023

Kate Forbes deutete an, dass sie heute Opfer „illiberaler“ Angriffe auf ihre religiösen Ansichten wurde, als ihre Kampagne, Schottlands erste Ministerin zu werden, wegen ihrer harten sozialen Haltung am Rande der Katastrophe stand.

Die SNP befindet sich heute Abend in einer Kernschmelze, nachdem die Spitzenreiterin der Führung trotzig ihre frommen christlichen Ansichten zu Themen von der Homo-Ehe bis zur Geschlechtsidentität zur Schau gestellt hat.

Die schottische Finanzministerin, 32, bestand darauf, dass Sex vor der Ehe und uneheliche Kinder in einem außergewöhnlichen 24-Stunden-Gemetzel, das ihre Bewerbung um die Nachfolge von Nicola Sturgeon im Wasser liegen gelassen zu haben, „falsch“ sei.

Es kam, nachdem sie zuvor bestätigt hatte, dass sie die gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe in Kommentaren ablehnte, die LGBT-Schotten wütend machten.

Sie bestand darauf, dass sie nicht die Absicht habe, ihre Ansichten anderen „aufzuzwingen“, und dass es „illiberal“ sei, Menschen mit „ziemlich Mainstream“-religiösen Ansichten als „jenseits“ zu behandeln.

Aber Verbündete geben zu, dass Frau Forbes es „vermasselt“ hat, wobei SNP-Aktivisten als die sozial liberalsten gelten.

Frau Forbes, ein Mitglied der Free Church of Scotland, könnte sogar mit einer internen SNP-Disziplinaruntersuchung konfrontiert werden, nachdem sie ITV Border gesagt hat: „Ich glaube, dass eine Transfrau ein biologischer Mann ist, der sich als Frau identifiziert.“

Die Parteiregeln legen nahe, dass die Bezeichnung von Transfrauen als „biologische Männer“ als transphob eingestuft werden kann.

Die Kandidatin der SNP-Führung, Kate Forbes (heute abgebildet), sagte, sie hätte gegen die Homo-Ehe in Schottland gestimmt, als sie vor fast einem Jahrzehnt legalisiert wurde. Die Kernschmelze lässt Gesundheitsministerin Humza Yousaf als Favoritin zurück, die Frau Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon (im Bild) übernimmt bei einem Besuch in Midlothian gestern) ließ die Bombe platzen, die sie letzte Woche aufgibt, nach einer heißen Phase, in der die SNP wegen ihres fehlgeschlagenen Versuchs, die Regeln zur Geschlechtsidentität zu lockern, und ihrer schwindenden Unterstützung für Unabhängigkeit ins Chaos geriet

Die Mutter eines Kindes – die ihren Mutterschaftsurlaub verkürzte, um am Wettbewerb teilzunehmen – zuckte jedoch die Kehrtwendungen einer Reihe von zuvor unterstützenden MSPs ab.

Die MSP schien heute Nachmittag anzuerkennen, dass ihre Ambitionen vereitelt werden könnten, und sagte, ihre Kampagne werde „im Moment“ fortgesetzt.

Inmitten einer Reihe von Angriffen im Laufe des Tages forderte die SNP-Abgeordnete Joanna Cherry, die mit den religiösen Ansichten von Frau Forbes nicht einverstanden ist, hochrangige Persönlichkeiten auf, „die Hunde abzurufen“, und sagte, der „Fressrausch sei ungehörig und schlecht für die Partei“.

Das bröckelnde Führungsangebot lässt Gesundheitsministerin Humza Yousaf als Favoritin für die Übernahme von Frau Sturgeon zurück – hat aber auch die massive Kluft im Herzen der Partei hervorgehoben.

Frau Forbes sah bereits in Schwierigkeiten aus, nachdem sie über Nacht zugegeben hatte, dass sie gegen die Homo-Ehe gestimmt hätte.

Und heute Nachmittag sagte sie Sky News, dass es „etwas ist, das ich vermeiden würde“, außereheliche Kinder zu haben.

„In Bezug auf meinen Glauben würde mein Glaube sagen, dass Kinder – er sagt, dass Sex für die Ehe ist. Das ist der Ansatz, den ich praktizieren würde “, sagte sie.

Frau Forbes bestand darauf, dass es kein Thema sei, über das sie „aufgeregt“ sei, und schlug vor, dass sie „meine Ansichten anderen Menschen nicht aufzwingen“ würde, und sie „akzeptiere“ Familie und Freunde, die diese „Entscheidungen“ getroffen haben.

Aber auf die Frage, ob es falsch sei, außereheliche Kinder zu haben, antwortete sie: „Für mich wäre es nach meinem Glauben falsch.“

Frau Forbes sagte: „In einer liberalen Gesellschaft können Sie koexistieren und diese Debatten und Diskussionen führen“, sagte sie. „Ich denke, es hat eine faszinierende Frage im Herzen des schottischen politischen Diskurses ans Licht gebracht, nämlich: Was bedeutet Liberalismus?

„Sind wir so illiberal geworden, dass wir diese Diskussionen nicht führen können, oder sind einige Leute über den Rand gestolpert? Denn wenn einige Leute über das Blasse hinaus sind, dann sind dies dunkle und gefährliche Tage für Schottland.

“Ich denke, diese Kampagne wird das hervorheben.”

Die SNP-Politikerin sah sich zunächst einer Gegenreaktion gegenüber, nachdem sie darauf bestanden hatte, dass sie die Ehe als zwischen einem Mann und einer Frau betrachtet.

Sie sagte, sie hätte gegen die gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe gestimmt, wenn sie damals MSP gewesen wäre, betonte jedoch, dass sie die Rechte der Menschen nach geltendem Recht verteidigen werde.

Frau Forbes sprach heute Morgen im Times Radio und versuchte, die Folgen zu glätten.

„Ich bereue den Schmerz oder die Verletzung, die mir zugefügt wurde, sehr, denn das war auch nicht meine Absicht, und ich würde um Vergebung bitten, wenn es so rüberkommt“, sagte sie.

Frau Forbes fügte hinzu, dass sie die Rechte von LGBT+-Personen verteidige, „frei von Belästigung, Angst und Vorurteilen“ zu leben.

Sie verglich ihre Haltung mit der von Angela Merkel, die einer Abstimmung über das Thema zustimmte, sich gegen die Änderung aussprach, dann aber den Willen des Deutschen Bundestages umsetzte.

Lesen Sie mehr: Wie der rücksichtslose Ehrgeiz des scheidenden Führers Schottland vor einer Reihe von Skandalen an den Rand der Unabhängigkeit brachte

„Meine Position in diesen Angelegenheiten ist, dass ich das Recht aller in einer pluralistischen und toleranten Gesellschaft, frei von Belästigung und Angst zu leben und zu lieben, nach Kräften verteidigen werde“, sagte sie.

„Und auf die gleiche Weise hoffe ich, dass anderen das Recht von Menschen des Glaubens gewährt werden kann, einen fairen Mainstream-Unterricht zu praktizieren. Und das ist die Nuance, die wir bei der gleichberechtigten Ehe einfangen müssen.“

Herausgefordert, dass ihre Kampagne so gut wie beendet war, sagte Frau Forbes: „Absolut nicht. Wir haben eine große Parteimitgliedschaft, von denen die meisten nicht auf Twitter sind.

„Ich verstehe, dass die Leute sehr starke Ansichten zu diesen Angelegenheiten haben. Ich denke, die Öffentlichkeit sehnt sich danach, dass Politiker klare Fragen mit klaren Antworten beantworten, und das habe ich gestern in den Medien versucht. Das lässt nicht unbedingt viele Nuancen zu.

“Meine Position in diesen Angelegenheiten ist, dass ich in einer pluralistischen und toleranten Gesellschaft die Rechte aller Menschen, frei von Belästigung und Angst zu leben und zu lieben, mit Nachdruck verteidigen werde.”

Die gleichberechtigte Ehe wurde 2014 in Schottland mit einer überwältigenden Mehrheit von 105 zu 18 Stimmen legalisiert, während Frau Forbes erst bei den Wahlen 2016 in Holyrood gewählt wurde.

Frau Forbes sagte zuvor, sie hätte nicht für das Gesetz zur Reform der Geschlechtsanerkennung (Schottland) der schottischen Regierung in seiner jetzigen Form gestimmt.

Da sie sich in Elternzeit befand, nahm sie vor dem neuen Jahr nicht an der Schlussabstimmung teil, ist aber seit 2019 klar dagegen.

Sie war eine von 15 SNP-Politikern, die ihre Partei öffentlich aufforderten, die umstrittenen Vorschläge zu verschieben, die es Transgender-Personen erleichtern, sich selbst als ihr gewähltes Geschlecht zu identifizieren.

Sie sagte: „Meine Bedenken hinsichtlich der Selbstidentifikation waren gut dokumentiert, und ich hätte diese Bedenken hinsichtlich der Selbstidentifikation weiterhin gehabt.

„Es ist sehr schwierig, hypothetisch zu sprechen, wenn es um einen Gesetzentwurf geht, aber ich glaube, ich hätte Mühe gehabt, dieses Selbstidentifizierungselement des Gesetzes zur Anerkennung des Geschlechts zu unterstützen.“

Hätte sie dagegen gestimmt, hätte sie ihre Position als Finanzministerin aufgeben müssen.

In einer weiteren umstrittenen Intervention sagte Frau Forbes, der verurteilte Transgender-Vergewaltiger, der ursprünglich in ein Frauengefängnis gebracht wurde, sei „ein Mann“.

Frau Sturgeon wich zuvor Fragen aus, ob Isla Bryson, früher bekannt als Adam Graham, eine Frau ist, nachdem die 31-Jährige zweier sexueller Angriffe für schuldig befunden worden war.

Aber im Gespräch mit dem Daily Telegraph sagte Frau Forbes unmissverständlich, dass „kein Vergewaltiger eine Frau sein kann“ und dass „Isla Bryson ein Mann ist“.

Frau Forbes beschuldigte ihre Gegner auch, sie wegen ihres christlichen Glaubens angegriffen zu haben, „und nicht wegen ihrer Kompetenz, Erfahrung oder Vision“.

Sie sagte: „Wir müssen sehr vorsichtig sein, dass wir in Schottland nicht sagen, dass Sie kein öffentliches Amt bekleiden können, selbst das höchste öffentliche Amt, wenn Sie Mitglied eines bestimmten Glaubens sind.

„Oder Sie können ein öffentliches Amt bekleiden, aber Sie müssen tatsächlich Ihren Glauben abstreifen. Das scheint mir ein sehr illiberaler Ansatz zu sein.

Sie fügte hinzu: „Mein Ansatz ist, dass ich offen mit dem Glauben umgegangen bin, dem Einfluss des Glaubens auf mein Leben.

“Aber wir scheinen in der Lage zu sein, einen Hindu in Nummer 10 zu haben, ist es übertrieben zu glauben, dass wir einen Christen in Bute House haben könnten?”

“Ich würde viel lieber mit der britischen Regierung über die Änderungen diskutieren, die vorgenommen werden müssen, als mit der Herausforderung fortzufahren.”

Isla Bryson – früher bekannt als Andrew Graham – wurde im Januar vor Gericht in Glasgow abgebildet

Wer ist Humza Yousaf?

Humza Yousaf, 37, ist der Gesundheitsminister der schottischen Regierung, der 2018 Schottlands erster muslimischer Kabinettsminister wurde, als er zum Justizminister ernannt wurde.

Er ist seit 2016 MSP für Glasgow Pollok, nachdem er bereits 2011 im Alter von nur 26 Jahren als zusätzliches Mitglied für die Region Glasgow in das schottische Parlament gewählt worden war.

Obwohl er als möglicher Ersatz für Frau Sturgeon als Erste Ministerin vorgeschlagen wurde, könnten die Chancen von Herrn Yousaf durch die aktuelle Gesundheitskrise in Schottland beeinträchtigt werden.

Besonders unter Druck geraten sind die langen Wartezeiten auf Krankenwagen und Notfallversorgung.

Herr Yousaf hat mit seiner zweiten Frau Nadia El-Nakla eine Tochter und ein Stiefkind.

Im Gespräch mit The Scotsman sagte Frau Forbes, die sich seit Frühsommer letzten Jahres im Mutterschaftsurlaub und von der Frontpolitik ferngehalten hat, dass sie die gleichberechtigte Ehe nicht als „Gewissenssache“ unterstützt hätte, wenn sie Abgeordnete im Parlament gewesen wäre Zeit.

Sie führte das Beispiel von Angela Merkel als einer Führungspersönlichkeit an, die über die Angelegenheit „mit ihrem Gewissen“ abgestimmt habe.

Sie sagte: „Ich hätte aus Gewissensgründen für die Lehre der meisten großen Religionen gestimmt, dass die Ehe zwischen Mann und Frau besteht.

„Aber ich hätte die getroffene demokratische Entscheidung respektiert und verteidigt.

“Es ist jetzt ein legales Recht und ich bin ein Diener der Demokratie, ich bin kein Diktator.”

Frau Forbes verurteilte auch den „illiberalen Diskurs“ um ihren Glauben und wie ihre religiösen Ansichten ihre Entscheidungen als Erste Ministerin beeinflussen könnten.

Sie ist Mitglied der Free Church of Scotland und hatte zuvor gesagt, ihr Glaube habe keinen Einfluss auf ihre Fähigkeit, als MSP zu dienen.

Herr Yousaf sagte, er werde „immer für die Gleichberechtigung anderer kämpfen“.

Auf die Frage, was er davon halte, was Frau Forbes zur gleichgeschlechtlichen Ehe zu sagen habe, sagte Herr Yousaf gegenüber der Sendung Good Morning Scotland von BBC Radio Scotland: „Es ist ihre Sache, ihre Ansichten zu verteidigen, ich habe meine Ansichten sehr klar zum Ausdruck gebracht.

„Ich denke, meine Erfolgsbilanz in Gleichstellungsfragen spricht eine klare und deutliche Sprache.

„Ich bin eine Minderheit in diesem Land, ich war mein ganzes Leben lang eine Minderheit, und meine Rechte existieren nicht in einem Vakuum, meine Rechte hängen von den Rechten anderer Menschen ab, und deshalb glaube ich sehr fest daran, und zwar mit jeder Faser mein Wesen, dass deine Gleichheit meine Gleichheit ist, deshalb werde ich immer für die Gleichberechtigung anderer kämpfen, egal wer sie sind.’

Die schottische Finanzministerin Kate Forbes kritisierte die Notwendigkeit, die Attraktivität der SNP zu „erweitern“, als sie bestätigte, dass sie kandidiert

Wer ist die Anwärterin auf die SNP-Führung, Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes ist ein führendes Mitglied der Verwaltung von Frau Sturgeon, die als Favoritin für ihren Ersatz gehandelt wird.

Die fließend Gälisch sprechende Sprecherin wurde im Februar 2020 Finanzministerin der schottischen Regierung, die erste Frau in diesem Amt.

Kate Forbes heiratete im Juli 2021 Alasdair MacLennan – einen verwitweten Schornsteinfeger, der zehn Jahre älter war als sie.

Ihr Ehemann, bekannt als Ali, hatte drei Töchter – Rachael, Rebekah und Zara – mit seiner indischen ersten Frau Priya. Sie starb 2014 im Alter von nur 38 Jahren.

Frau Forbes, 32, ging im vergangenen Juli in den Mutterschaftsurlaub – die erste amtierende schottische Kabinettssekretärin überhaupt – und brachte im August ihre Tochter Naomi zur Welt.

Als Tochter von Missionaren verbrachte Frau Forbes einen Großteil ihrer Kindheit in Indien.

Sie ist Mitglied der Free Church of Scotland, manchmal auch als „Wee Frees“ bekannt, die gegen die Homo-Ehe ist und glaubt, dass es nur wenige Umstände gibt, unter denen eine Abtreibung gerechtfertigt ist.

Die Regierung von Frau Sturgeon wurde beschuldigt, ihre umstrittenen Reformen zur Geschlechtsidentität vor Weihnachten durchgezogen zu haben, während Frau Forbes im Mutterschaftsurlaub blieb, um eine mögliche Revolte der 32-Jährigen zu verhindern.

The post SNP’s Kate Forbes blasts ‘intolerant’ assaults after opposing extramarital intercourse and homosexual marriage appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

By Jonathan Brocklebank for the Scottish Daily Mail

13:14 February 21, 2023, updated 15:51 February 21, 2023

She was smart, articulate, and—remarkably given her youth and the sheepish tendencies of many of her peers—a woman of her own. The problem with Kate Forbes, from the perspective of her allies, was her apparent lack of ambition.

When asked in 2020 if she was interested in the top job, she replied that she was “absolutely” not.

When the question came up again the following year, she was just as firm — and more explicit about why it definitely wasn’t for her. “The more I see the job up close,” she said, “the less appealing it is.”

So that’s it. The brightest rising star in the nationalist movement had no interest in replacing Nicola Sturgeon, especially in a political arena she felt “felt more toxic than ever.”

She had just married Ali – Alasdair MacLennan, a chimney sweep ten years her senior, and was adjusting to life as a parent to his three teenage daughters.

Kate Forbes (pictured here in the Scottish Parliament building) is entirely her own wife, writes Jonathan Brocklebank

She became pregnant shortly afterwards and took maternity leave in July last year as the Scottish Government’s first cabinet secretary.

Daughter Naomi is only six months old now.

Just in case Miss Forbes still had an ounce of doubt about keeping her name out of any leadership race, Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation speech could have been almost tailor-made to sweep her away.

Life as First Minister is “relentlessly” hard, she said, and “giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it”. There is “virtually no privacy” and “a First Minister is never off duty”.

And yet, in her first public statement since Miss Sturgeon resigned on Wednesday, there was a slightly different assessment of the desirability of the post the SNP leader is vacating.

“We need a leader who is bold, courageous and energetic, with a fresh face and ready for new challenges,” explained Miss Forbes in a slick video posted to social media.

“I am that leader.”

Whether the Dingwall-born former chartered accountant is a leader at all remains to be seen. But it’s already emerging that she’s the candidate who will represent the biggest cultural shift since the Sturgeon era.

The pair are far from each other on almost everything except the independence goal itself. Regarding abortion, one of them is pro-choice, the other pro-life. One is for gender reform, the other against. One is a bright social progressive, the other a social conservative. One speaks of hating the Tories and the other of loving Jesus.

One is a lowland city dweller with an equally compact inner-city constituency, the other a highland countryman whose territory spans thousands of square miles.

If Humza Yousaf considers herself Nicola Sturgeon’s continuity candidate, Miss Forbes is certainly the screeching halt in her predecessor’s direction of travel. The gaping chasm between them is the fault line that runs right through their group.

In short, the newest entrant to the leadership race is the Sturgeonistas’ worst nightmare. Would she overthrow the party to the right? Break Parliament from its commitments to gender reform? Maybe even work constructively with the Tories in Westminster?

Hear the SNP’s obviously nervous Mhairi Black about the prospect of a new party leader who deviates from the hard left’s agenda of the last eight years: “Any attempt to move to the right would destroy the main motivation for many activists, the doors open,” she called.

“If you take that reason away, you won’t find anyone under the age of 35 willing to deliver your leaflets very quickly.”

Well, Miss Forbes is 32 – and handing out leaflets is where it all started for her at SNP.

When she first began helping with local party campaigns, she had spent several of her childhood years in India, where her parents were missionaries.

Fluent in Gaelic and a member of the Free Church of Scotland, she made no attempt to downplay her from the start of her political journey.

“To be honest, I believe in the person of Jesus Christ,” she explained in 2021. “I believe that he died for me, he saved me and that my calling is to serve and love him and me to serve and love his neighbors with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. Politics will pass. I am a person before I became a politician and that person will continue to believe that I am made in the image of God.’

In a party whose statements by members often appear interchangeable, this was anything but usual.

This politician could obviously imagine things that were more fundamental to her than independence.

From Dingwall Academy she went not to a Scottish university, as aspiring SNP politicians almost always do, but to Cambridge University to study history.

The newest entrant to the race for the lead is the Sturgeonistas’ worst nightmare

Upon returning to Scotland, she completed an MSc at the University of Edinburgh in diaspora and migration history – subjects dear to her heart after learning how the Highland Clearances drove her ancestors from the Applecross Peninsula in Wester Ross.

She later studied to be an accountant and spent two years with banking giant Barclays.

She then became an assistant to MSP David Thomson before – almost by accident – at the age of just 26 she landed on the spot he vacated in 2016.

Despite many urging her to run, she said, “I looked at myself and thought, ‘Too young, too immature, too little life experience’.”

The fact that she was back in her childhood bedroom at the family home in Dingwall only seemed to underscore her youth.

But she prevailed, increasing the SNP’s majority in the constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch – and she remained in the family home for months after her election.

Her real coming of age in politics, however, came at age 29, when she was asked at the very last minute to deliver the SNP budget after Treasury Secretary Derek Mackay, it turned out, resigned out of favor, according to News to a Teenage Schoolboy.

It seemed like an impossible question. It was 7 a.m. on the day of the testimony when the call came from Miss Sturgeon’s office. Miss Forbes had to go through 283 pages of budget plans before she could deliver it.

She recalled, “In that moment, you don’t have the luxury of thinking too hard about what you’re asking of you, you just do it.” And she did it with more aplomb than the shamed Mr. Mackay had ever mustered.

From that day on she was traded as a possible successor to Miss Sturgeon. In fact, the party leader is said to have privately admitted that of all the possible candidates for her successor, Miss Forbes was the most talented.

Less than two weeks after taking office, she was appointed Treasury Secretary, becoming the youngest person ever appointed to the role and the first cabinet secretary born in the 1990s.

However, the intervention that Miss Forbes made last year was less remembered.

She was one of three government ministers to sign a letter raising concerns about the potential impact on women of allowing people to self-identify their gender and urging the Scottish Government to delay its controversial gender reforms .

Ash Regan, who is also challenging for the SNP leadership, was another.

In January last year, Miss Forbes confirmed that her position on the matter was unchanged and expressed fears that the Gender Recognition Reform Act (Scotland) could be a “bad law”.

If not for her maternity leave, she would have had to either vote for this “bad law” or leave her government post, as Miss Regan did last year.

Perhaps, by Miss Sturgeon’s reckoning, that same maternity leave would put Miss Forbes out of the leadership race if she snapped it up fast enough.

If that was the plan, it surely failed.

The next-generation ‘fresh’ candidate has Bute House in her sights – and should she get there, her predecessor’s legacy could be the first to be shredded.

The post Why Kate Forbes represents the largest cultural shift from the Nicola Sturgeon period appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor at Mailonline

11:09 February 20, 2023, updated 15:50 February 20, 2023

• Race is to be succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon as head of the SNP and first minister
• Kate Forbes, who has long been talked about as a potential successor, announced today

The battle to succeed Nicola Sturgeon intensified today as Kate Forbes cut her maternity leave to throw her hat in the ring.

The Scottish Finance Minister, seen by many as a front-runner, has attacked the outgoing leader as she said the SNP needed a “broader” appeal and someone “fresh-faced”.

In a video shared on social media showing footage of the stunning Scottish countryside, a tartan-clad woman gave Forbes a nod to the apparently stalled Separatist campaign north of the border.

She warned that nationalists risked “being frustrated on the road to self-determination” and said she had the “vision, experience and competence to inspire voters across Scotland”.

“We urgently need to unleash the full talent of the SNP, the broader yes movement and the country as a whole,” she said.

Ms Forbes was hot-tipped despite concerns her ties to an anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion evangelical church could be harmful.

Constitutional Secretary Angus Robertson confirmed this morning that he will not run for the party’s top post.

Scottish Finance Minister Kate Forbes lamented the need to “broaden” the SNP’s appeal as she confirmed she is a candidate in a slick video by Kate Forbes Nicola Sturgeon

Ms Sturgeon dropped the bombshell she was dropping last week after a heated spell that saw the SNP thrown into chaos over its failed attempt to relax gender identity rules and dwindling support for independence.

Visiting the Roslin Institute in Midlothian today, minutes before Ms Forbes’ statement, she expressed “tremendous confidence that the SNP will select someone with ability”.

“It’s clear that there’s a spectrum of talent on display there.”

Appearing in the video against a backdrop of the Scottish countryside and with a tartan scarf around her neck, Ms Forbes said: “Friends in the SNP, our nation and our movement are at an important crossroads. The decisions we make over the next few weeks will have a profound impact on our future and the future of our children.

“I cannot sit back and watch as our nation is thwarted on the road to self-determination. Our small independent neighbors are enjoying more prosperous, fairer and greener societies, and so should we.

“We urgently need to unleash the full talent of the SNP, the broader yes movement and the country as a whole.

Who is the contender for the SNP leadership, Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes is a senior member of Ms Sturgeon’s administration, who is being tipped as the favorite to replace her.

The fluent Gaelic speaker became Finance Minister in the Scottish Government in February 2020, the first woman to hold the post.

Kate Forbes married Alasdair MacLennan – a widowed chimney sweep ten years her senior – in July 2021.

Their wedding was streamed online because Covid restrictions limited the number of people who could attend.

The 32-year-old went on maternity leave last July – becoming the first acting Scottish Cabinet Secretary ever – and gave birth to their daughter Naomi in August.

It was previously believed that Ms Forbes harbored no leadership ambitions, although she has been touted as a future SNP leader since entering the Scottish Parliament as MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in 2016.

The daughter of missionaries, Mrs. Forbes spent much of her childhood in India.

She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, sometimes known as the ‘Wee Frees’, which opposes gay marriage and believes there are few circumstances in which an abortion is justified.

Ms Forbes has previously said she was “guilty” of “tiptoeing around” her Christian faith in interviews.

Ms Sturgeon’s government has been accused of rushing through its controversial gender identity reforms ahead of Christmas while Ms Forbes stayed on maternity leave to prevent a possible revolt by the 32-year-old.

“We must elect strong, competent leadership to ensure independence, the leadership that I can offer.

“I think we need someone who can unite our party and our movement. I am a unifier, I will reach out and listen to make each member feel valued and empowered to contribute.

“This is also important if we want to convince others of the merits of independence. But now we also need someone who has our economy and our finances under control.

“In the midst of a cost of living crisis and the need to plan for independence, my years of managing the household and economy of Scotland have given me the experience we need to do just that.

“More than anything, we need a leader who is bold, courageous and energetic, with fresh faces and ready for new challenges.

“Someone who will inspire your confidence as an SNP member and inspire the people of Scotland to vote for a better future

“I am that leader and I want to lead our party to better days with integrity and commitment for the sake of your children and mine.”

Health Minister Humza Yousaf and former community security minister Ash Regan clashed over three major policy issues – independence, gender reform and road building – yesterday as they confirmed their decision to enter the competition.

Mr Yousaf also appeared to enlist the support of many of Ms Sturgeon’s key allies while an information campaign was launched against Ms Forbes.

There are claims the Scottish Greens could pull out of their current power-sharing arrangement in Holyrood if Ms Forbes takes over.

The 32-year-old is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, sometimes known as the ‘Wee Frees’, which opposes gay marriage and believes there are few circumstances in which an abortion is justified.

SNP Deputy Leader Keith Brown, Environment Secretary Mairi McAllan and Culture Secretary Neil Gray all confirmed yesterday that they would not run.

As the dispute escalated, former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman urged those who informed each other to stop fighting or risk losing support.

Business Secretary Ivan McKee said an announcement from the “enormously talented” Ms Forbes could be expected later.

He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland program: “Kate has some big decisions to make, of course this happened during her maternity leave, she had no intention of returning until early April and as we all know the announcements last week were for everyone a surprise.

“So Kate has had to assess her position and understand what can be done, but I understand she has considered that and will make an announcement later today and we’ll see what she has to say.”

Mr McKee said he would support Ms Forbes if she decided to run.

He said: “I think Kate is an extremely talented person. I have had the pleasure of working with her over the past seven years and seeing first hand what she can achieve, her focus on what matters to Scotland and her ability to connect with people in Scotland on a very real and authentic level to get in touch and convince them of their case.

Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is running for the SNP’s top post

‘And I think these talents to deliver excellent public services, a strong economy, a green economy for Scotland and to convince people of the SNP and independence are exactly the assets we need in a leader.’

Ms Forbes has long been considered a potential successor to the First Minister.

She was thrust into the spotlight when she had to step in at the eleventh hour and deliver the Scottish household in 2020 after her predecessor Derek Mackay fell out of favor.

Candidates have until Friday to secure 100 nominations from at least 20 local branches to secure their spot on the ballot, with the new SNP leader being announced on March 27.

The post Who’s Kate Forbes? Meet the SNP management hopeful backed to succeed Nicola Sturgeon appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Von James Tapsfield, politischer Redakteur bei Mailonline

13:10 21. Februar 2023, aktualisiert 17:57 21. Februar 2023

Die SNP befindet sich heute Abend in einer Kernschmelze, nachdem Kate Forbes, Spitzenreiterin der Führung, trotzig ihre frommen christlichen Ansichten zu Themen von der Homo-Ehe bis zur Geschlechtsidentität zur Schau gestellt hat.

Die schottische Finanzministerin bestand darauf, dass Sex vor der Ehe und uneheliche Kinder „falsch“ seien in einem außergewöhnlichen 24-Stunden-Gemetzel, das ihre Bewerbung um die Nachfolge von Nicola Sturgeon anscheinend im Stich gelassen hat.

Die Verbündeten geben zu, dass Frau Forbes es „vermasselt“ hat, wobei SNP-Aktivisten als die sozial liberalsten gelten.

Frau Forbes, ein Mitglied der Free Church of Scotland, könnte sogar mit einer internen SNP-Disziplinaruntersuchung konfrontiert werden, nachdem sie ITV Border gesagt hat: „Ich glaube, dass eine Transfrau ein biologischer Mann ist, der sich als Frau identifiziert.“

Die Parteiregeln legen nahe, dass die Bezeichnung von Transfrauen als „biologische Männer“ als transphob eingestuft werden kann.

Die 32-Jährige, die ihren Mutterschaftsurlaub verkürzte, um an dem Wettbewerb teilzunehmen, zuckte jedoch die Kehrtwendungen einer Reihe zuvor unterstützender MSPs ab.

Sie bestand darauf, dass sie nicht die Absicht habe, ihre Ansichten anderen „aufzuzwingen“, und dass es „illiberal“ sei, Menschen mit „ziemlich Mainstream“-religiösen Ansichten als „jenseits“ zu behandeln.

Die MSP schien heute Nachmittag anzuerkennen, dass ihre Ambitionen vereitelt werden könnten, und sagte, ihre Kampagne werde „im Moment“ fortgesetzt.

Inmitten einer Reihe von Angriffen im Laufe des Tages forderte die SNP-Abgeordnete Joanna Cherry, die mit den religiösen Ansichten von Frau Forbes nicht einverstanden ist, hochrangige Persönlichkeiten auf, „die Hunde abzurufen“, und sagte, der „Fressrausch sei ungehörig und schlecht für die Partei“.

Das bröckelnde Führungsangebot lässt Gesundheitsministerin Humza Yousaf als Favoritin für die Übernahme von Frau Sturgeon zurück – hat aber auch die massive Kluft im Herzen der Partei hervorgehoben.

Die Kandidatin der SNP-Führung, Kate Forbes (heute abgebildet), sagte, sie hätte gegen die Homo-Ehe in Schottland gestimmt, als sie vor fast einem Jahrzehnt legalisiert wurde. Die Kernschmelze lässt Gesundheitsministerin Humza Yousaf als Favoritin zurück, die Frau Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon (im Bild) übernimmt bei einem Besuch in Midlothian gestern) ließ die Bombe platzen, die sie letzte Woche aufgibt, nach einer heißen Phase, in der die SNP wegen ihres fehlgeschlagenen Versuchs, die Regeln zur Geschlechtsidentität zu lockern, und ihrer schwindenden Unterstützung für Unabhängigkeit ins Chaos geriet

Frau Forbes sah bereits in Schwierigkeiten aus, nachdem sie über Nacht zugegeben hatte, dass sie gegen die Homo-Ehe gestimmt hätte.

Und heute Nachmittag sagte sie Sky News, dass es „etwas ist, das ich vermeiden würde“, außereheliche Kinder zu haben.

„In Bezug auf meinen Glauben würde mein Glaube sagen, dass Kinder – er sagt, dass Sex für die Ehe ist. Das ist der Ansatz, den ich praktizieren würde “, sagte sie.

Frau Forbes bestand darauf, dass es kein Thema sei, über das sie „aufgeregt“ sei, und schlug vor, dass sie „meine Ansichten anderen Menschen nicht aufzwingen“ würde, und sie „akzeptiere“ Familie und Freunde, die diese „Entscheidungen“ getroffen haben.

Aber auf die Frage, ob es falsch sei, außereheliche Kinder zu haben, antwortete sie: „Für mich wäre es nach meinem Glauben falsch.“

Frau Forbes sagte: „In einer liberalen Gesellschaft können Sie koexistieren und diese Debatten und Diskussionen führen“, sagte sie. „Ich denke, es hat eine faszinierende Frage im Herzen des schottischen politischen Diskurses ans Licht gebracht, nämlich: Was bedeutet Liberalismus?

„Sind wir so illiberal geworden, dass wir diese Diskussionen nicht führen können, oder sind einige Leute über den Rand gestolpert? Denn wenn einige Leute über das Blasse hinaus sind, dann sind dies dunkle und gefährliche Tage für Schottland.

“Ich denke, diese Kampagne wird das hervorheben.”

Die SNP-Politikerin sah sich zunächst einer Gegenreaktion gegenüber, nachdem sie darauf bestanden hatte, dass sie die Ehe als zwischen einem Mann und einer Frau betrachtet.

Sie sagte, sie hätte gegen die gleichgeschlechtliche Ehe gestimmt, wenn sie damals MSP gewesen wäre, betonte jedoch, dass sie die Rechte der Menschen nach geltendem Recht verteidigen werde.

Frau Forbes sprach heute Morgen im Times Radio und versuchte, die Folgen zu glätten.

„Ich bereue den Schmerz oder die Verletzung, die mir zugefügt wurde, sehr, denn das war auch nicht meine Absicht, und ich würde um Vergebung bitten, wenn es so rüberkommt“, sagte sie.

Frau Forbes fügte hinzu, dass sie die Rechte von LGBT+-Personen verteidige, „frei von Belästigung, Angst und Vorurteilen“ zu leben.

Sie verglich ihre Haltung mit der von Angela Merkel, die einer Abstimmung über das Thema zustimmte, sich gegen die Änderung aussprach, dann aber den Willen des Deutschen Bundestages umsetzte.

Lesen Sie mehr: Wie der rücksichtslose Ehrgeiz des scheidenden Führers Schottland vor einer Reihe von Skandalen an den Rand der Unabhängigkeit brachte

„Meine Position in diesen Angelegenheiten ist, dass ich das Recht aller in einer pluralistischen und toleranten Gesellschaft, frei von Belästigung und Angst zu leben und zu lieben, nach Kräften verteidigen werde“, sagte sie.

„Und auf die gleiche Weise hoffe ich, dass anderen das Recht von Menschen des Glaubens gewährt werden kann, einen fairen Mainstream-Unterricht zu praktizieren. Und das ist die Nuance, die wir bei der gleichberechtigten Ehe einfangen müssen.“

Herausgefordert, dass ihre Kampagne so gut wie beendet war, sagte Frau Forbes: „Absolut nicht. Wir haben eine große Parteimitgliedschaft, von denen die meisten nicht auf Twitter sind.

„Ich verstehe, dass die Leute sehr starke Ansichten zu diesen Angelegenheiten haben. Ich denke, die Öffentlichkeit sehnt sich danach, dass Politiker klare Fragen mit klaren Antworten beantworten, und das habe ich gestern in den Medien versucht. Das lässt nicht unbedingt viele Nuancen zu.

“Meine Position in diesen Angelegenheiten ist, dass ich in einer pluralistischen und toleranten Gesellschaft die Rechte aller Menschen, frei von Belästigung und Angst zu leben und zu lieben, mit Nachdruck verteidigen werde.”

Die gleichberechtigte Ehe wurde 2014 in Schottland mit einer überwältigenden Mehrheit von 105 zu 18 Stimmen legalisiert, während Frau Forbes erst bei den Wahlen 2016 in Holyrood gewählt wurde.

Frau Forbes sagte zuvor, sie hätte nicht für das Gesetz zur Reform der Geschlechtsanerkennung (Schottland) der schottischen Regierung in seiner jetzigen Form gestimmt.

Da sie sich in Elternzeit befand, nahm sie vor dem neuen Jahr nicht an der Schlussabstimmung teil, ist aber seit 2019 klar dagegen.

Sie war eine von 15 SNP-Politikern, die ihre Partei öffentlich aufforderten, die umstrittenen Vorschläge zu verschieben, die es Transgender-Personen erleichtern, sich selbst als ihr gewähltes Geschlecht zu identifizieren.

Sie sagte: „Meine Bedenken hinsichtlich der Selbstidentifikation waren gut dokumentiert, und ich hätte diese Bedenken hinsichtlich der Selbstidentifikation weiterhin gehabt.

„Es ist sehr schwierig, hypothetisch zu sprechen, wenn es um einen Gesetzentwurf geht, aber ich glaube, ich hätte Mühe gehabt, dieses Selbstidentifizierungselement des Gesetzes zur Anerkennung des Geschlechts zu unterstützen.“

Hätte sie dagegen gestimmt, hätte sie ihre Position als Finanzministerin aufgeben müssen.

In einer weiteren umstrittenen Intervention sagte Frau Forbes, der verurteilte Transgender-Vergewaltiger, der ursprünglich in ein Frauengefängnis gebracht wurde, sei „ein Mann“.

Frau Sturgeon wich zuvor Fragen aus, ob Isla Bryson, früher bekannt als Adam Graham, eine Frau ist, nachdem die 31-Jährige zweier sexueller Angriffe für schuldig befunden worden war.

Aber im Gespräch mit dem Daily Telegraph sagte Frau Forbes unmissverständlich, dass „kein Vergewaltiger eine Frau sein kann“ und dass „Isla Bryson ein Mann ist“.

Frau Forbes beschuldigte ihre Gegner auch, sie wegen ihres christlichen Glaubens angegriffen zu haben, „und nicht wegen ihrer Kompetenz, Erfahrung oder Vision“.

Sie sagte: „Wir müssen sehr vorsichtig sein, dass wir in Schottland nicht sagen, dass Sie kein öffentliches Amt bekleiden können, selbst das höchste öffentliche Amt, wenn Sie Mitglied eines bestimmten Glaubens sind.

„Oder Sie können ein öffentliches Amt bekleiden, aber Sie müssen tatsächlich Ihren Glauben abstreifen. Das scheint mir ein sehr illiberaler Ansatz zu sein.

Sie fügte hinzu: „Mein Ansatz ist, dass ich offen mit dem Glauben umgegangen bin, dem Einfluss des Glaubens auf mein Leben.

“Aber wir scheinen in der Lage zu sein, einen Hindu in Nummer 10 zu haben, ist es übertrieben zu glauben, dass wir einen Christen in Bute House haben könnten?”

“Ich würde viel lieber mit der britischen Regierung über die Änderungen diskutieren, die vorgenommen werden müssen, als mit der Herausforderung fortzufahren.”

Isla Bryson – früher bekannt als Andrew Graham – wurde im Januar vor Gericht in Glasgow abgebildet

Wer ist Humza Yousaf?

Humza Yousaf, 37, ist der Gesundheitsminister der schottischen Regierung, der 2018 Schottlands erster muslimischer Kabinettsminister wurde, als er zum Justizminister ernannt wurde.

Er ist seit 2016 MSP für Glasgow Pollok, nachdem er bereits 2011 im Alter von nur 26 Jahren als zusätzliches Mitglied für die Region Glasgow in das schottische Parlament gewählt worden war.

Obwohl er als möglicher Ersatz für Frau Sturgeon als Erste Ministerin vorgeschlagen wurde, könnten die Chancen von Herrn Yousaf durch die aktuelle Gesundheitskrise in Schottland beeinträchtigt werden.

Besonders unter Druck geraten sind die langen Wartezeiten auf Krankenwagen und Notfallversorgung.

Herr Yousaf hat mit seiner zweiten Frau Nadia El-Nakla eine Tochter und ein Stiefkind.

Im Gespräch mit The Scotsman sagte Frau Forbes, die sich seit Frühsommer letzten Jahres im Mutterschaftsurlaub und von der Frontpolitik ferngehalten hat, dass sie die gleichberechtigte Ehe nicht als „Gewissenssache“ unterstützt hätte, wenn sie Abgeordnete im Parlament gewesen wäre Zeit.

Sie führte das Beispiel von Angela Merkel als einer Führungspersönlichkeit an, die über die Angelegenheit „mit ihrem Gewissen“ abgestimmt habe.

Sie sagte: „Ich hätte aus Gewissensgründen für die Lehre der meisten großen Religionen gestimmt, dass die Ehe zwischen Mann und Frau besteht.

„Aber ich hätte die getroffene demokratische Entscheidung respektiert und verteidigt.

“Es ist jetzt ein legales Recht und ich bin ein Diener der Demokratie, ich bin kein Diktator.”

Frau Forbes verurteilte auch den „illiberalen Diskurs“ um ihren Glauben und wie ihre religiösen Ansichten ihre Entscheidungen als Erste Ministerin beeinflussen könnten.

Sie ist Mitglied der Free Church of Scotland und hatte zuvor gesagt, ihr Glaube habe keinen Einfluss auf ihre Fähigkeit, als MSP zu dienen.

Herr Yousaf sagte, er werde „immer für die Gleichberechtigung anderer kämpfen“.

Auf die Frage, was er davon halte, was Frau Forbes zur gleichgeschlechtlichen Ehe zu sagen habe, sagte Herr Yousaf gegenüber der Sendung Good Morning Scotland von BBC Radio Scotland: „Es ist ihre Sache, ihre Ansichten zu verteidigen, ich habe meine Ansichten sehr klar zum Ausdruck gebracht.

„Ich denke, meine Erfolgsbilanz in Gleichstellungsfragen spricht eine klare und deutliche Sprache.

„Ich bin eine Minderheit in diesem Land, ich war mein ganzes Leben lang eine Minderheit, und meine Rechte existieren nicht in einem Vakuum, meine Rechte hängen von den Rechten anderer Menschen ab, und deshalb glaube ich sehr fest daran, und zwar mit jeder Faser mein Wesen, dass deine Gleichheit meine Gleichheit ist, deshalb werde ich immer für die Gleichberechtigung anderer kämpfen, egal wer sie sind.’

Die schottische Finanzministerin Kate Forbes kritisierte die Notwendigkeit, die Attraktivität der SNP zu „erweitern“, als sie bestätigte, dass sie kandidiert

Wer ist die Anwärterin auf die SNP-Führung, Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes ist ein führendes Mitglied der Verwaltung von Frau Sturgeon, die als Favoritin für ihren Ersatz gehandelt wird.

Die fließend Gälisch sprechende Sprecherin wurde im Februar 2020 Finanzministerin der schottischen Regierung, die erste Frau in diesem Amt.

Kate Forbes heiratete im Juli 2021 Alasdair MacLennan – einen verwitweten Schornsteinfeger, der zehn Jahre älter war als sie.

Ihr Ehemann, bekannt als Ali, hatte drei Töchter – Rachael, Rebekah und Zara – mit seiner indischen ersten Frau Priya. Sie starb 2014 im Alter von nur 38 Jahren.

Frau Forbes, 32, ging im vergangenen Juli in den Mutterschaftsurlaub – die erste amtierende schottische Kabinettssekretärin überhaupt – und brachte im August ihre Tochter Naomi zur Welt.

Als Tochter von Missionaren verbrachte Frau Forbes einen Großteil ihrer Kindheit in Indien.

Sie ist Mitglied der Free Church of Scotland, manchmal auch als „Wee Frees“ bekannt, die gegen die Homo-Ehe ist und glaubt, dass es nur wenige Umstände gibt, unter denen eine Abtreibung gerechtfertigt ist.

Die Regierung von Frau Sturgeon wurde beschuldigt, ihre umstrittenen Reformen zur Geschlechtsidentität vor Weihnachten durchgezogen zu haben, während Frau Forbes im Mutterschaftsurlaub blieb, um eine mögliche Revolte der 32-Jährigen zu verhindern.

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