Indian Non-Binary Transgender Person Q Manivannan Elected as MSP in Scotland

Q9: What pronouns does Manivannan use?
A: They/them.

Q10: How many MSPs are in the Scottish Parliament?
A: 129 MSPs. The Parliament is unicameral.

Exam-Focused Points

• Name:  Q Manivannan (non-binary transgender, from Tamil Nadu, India)

• Pronouns:  They/them

• Elected:  8 May 2026

• Position:  Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh & Lothians East

• Political party:  Scottish Greens

• Historic achievements:

  • One of the first two transgender MSPs elected to Holyrood

  • First person elected to Scottish Parliament without a permanent UK visa

• Legal change:  2025 SNP government law allowed non-UK citizens with any leave (including student visas) to stand for Parliament

• Arrived in Scotland:  September 2021

• Studied at:  University of St Andrews (Scotland); previously OP Jindal Global University (Delhi)

• Scottish Parliament facts:

  • Devolved legislature of Scotland

  • Sits at Holyrood, Edinburgh

  • Established 1999 after Scotland Act 1998

  • Unicameral, 129 MSPs

• Manivannan’s identity:  Queer Tamil immigrant, lower-caste background

• Political stance:  Supports Palestine; represents working-class and marginalised communities