Trans immigrant MSP Dr Q Manivannan says "I'm so very happy" amid "violent hate"
- Rory Cassidy
- May 11
- 2 min read
Newly-elected transgender immigrant MSP Dr Q Manivannan has thanked supporters amid what the politician has described as "violent hate" and insisted - "I am so very happy".
The Scottish Greens representative, who is from India and is in Scotland on a student visa, was elected to the Scottish Parliament on Friday.
Speaking after securing a spot as a list MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, Dr Manivannan said: "My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them."
Critics have questioned why the candidate was allowed to stand for Holyrood without currently being allowed to stay in Scotland for the full term in office.
The election win means Dr Manivannan will have to apply for a new visa while working at Holyrood, in order to serve the full term in office.
But Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said the party will help their new MSP - who now earns a taxpayer funded salary of just below £80,000 - with the process.
And Dr Manivannan took to social media to comment on the events of the last few days - thanking supporters and hitting back at critics.
Posting on Instagram yesterday, Sunday, May 10, 2026, the politician said: "If my mere existence causes this much trouble, I'm excited to see how much my words will.
"I took a walk with a pal today in the end-of-Spring sun in Leith, and to all of you who stopped and thanked me for running, congratulated me, and hugged me - thank you.
"To the mothers of trans children who've reached out to tell me they cried when I was elected - thank you.
"To the women and enbys [nonbinary people] who've written to say that Scotland is proud of me, and that you have my back - thank you.
"Scotland is my home because you, my family, fight for me. And for that, amidst the violent hate, I am so very happy.
"And doesn't that p*** people off?"
The post was 'liked' over 2,700 times and attracted a number of messages of support, but, at the time of writing, comments on the post have been limited.
Dr Manivannan, who serves as co-convenor of the Scottish Greens' Palestine Solidarity Group, is non-binary and uses the handle q.ueering on Instagram.
Relaxed legislation on eligibility rules allowed the PhD student and non-UK citizen to stand to represent Scots at Holyrood.
Speaking on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, Gillian Mackay said Dr Manivannan would have to complete a new visa application process during the session of parliament.
And she said the party would be supporting the MSP in any way possible, and that she did not think that obtaining a visa would be a problem.
Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative candidate for the Lothians, said ahead of the election: "Voters will be astonished that this candidate doesn't even know if they will be able to stay in the country going forward.
"Questions must be asked as to why they are standing for Holyrood with uncertainty hanging over them."
Comments