'Someone's taking the p***': Fury as Scotland's first ever male period dignity officer is appointed
16 August 2022, 09:35 | Updated: 16 August 2022, 14:31
There is outrage in Scotland after the SNP appointed a 'period dignity officer' who is male.
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Jason Grant, a former personal trainer from Dundee, was given the post for the Tay region of Scotland.
His roles will include promoting access to free sanitary products after the Period Products Act came into force in Scotland on Monday.
But many women expressed outrage at the decision to give the appointment to a man.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova described the decision to appoint him as "absurd", while British actress Frances Barber said she was "fuming".
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"Come on, somebody’s taking the p***," wrote one woman on Twitter.
"As part of the SNP’s approach to delivering period dignity, a Dundee man has taken on a pioneering new role."
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Another wrote: "As part of the SNP’s approach to delivering period dignity, they have appointed a Dundee man, Jason Grant, yes, I kid you not, a man, to a newly appointed role as period dignity officer for the Tayside region... the SNP really do take the proverbial."
A third encouraged Mr Grant to step down, writing: "Jason Grant, if you're reading any of this, you should step down and leave that job to a woman. Weirdo."
But Mr Grant has welcomed the position - and suggested having a man in the role could benefit everyone because trans men also have periods.
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"I'm absolutely buzzing about it," he told the Dundee Courier.
"It's definitely pioneering as Scotland is the first to do this.
"It's about making people aware of the availability of period products for anyone of any gender, whenever they need it.
"And it’s important whatever we do is done with dignity, so people know that there’s no judgement."
Mr Grant previously worked as an account manager with Imperial Tobacco. He then became a personal trainer with his own business and was recently a wellbeing officer for Dundee and Angus College.
The role of period dignity officer comes with a salary of up to £36,126 and is funded by the Scottish government.
