NICOLA Sturgeon has said she believes society will look back and "feel a sense of collective shame" at the vilification of trans people.
The former first minister was speaking outside Holyrood on Wednesday after she announced her decision to stand down as an MSP at next year's election.
Sturgeon was a staunch champion of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill that was passed by MSPs with cross-party support in December 2022.
The legislation was designed to streamline the process for people to obtain a gender recognition certificate – the official route to changing one’s legally recognised sex.
The bill was later blocked by then-Scottish secretary Alister Jack with a never-used-before Section 35 order.
Judges then ruled that Westminster acted lawfully when it vetoed the Scottish Government’s gender self-ID reforms.
Sturgeon told journalists that while she regretted "the inability to debate things civilly and respectfully", she would "never apologise for trying to make life better for one of the most stigmatised, discriminated against sections of our society".
She said: "What I regret about issue, what I regret about much of political discourse right now, and I take my share of responsibility for it, is the inability to debate things civilly and respectfully.
"On that issue, what I would say is we need to all, I think, be a bit more respectful in the debate that we have.
"I think we'll look back as a society – I hope it's sooner rather than later, but who knows how long it will take – and feel a sense of collective shame at the way in which trans people have been vilified in our society, and I think all of us should perhaps reflect on that.
"So I will never apologise for trying to make life better for one of the most stigmatised, discriminated against sections of our society.
"Many of the claims that are made about a Gender Recognition Bill – that remember, isn't even force – I don't think stand up to scrutiny, but of course others will have their say too."
She said: “I have known in my heart for a while that the time is right for me to embrace different opportunities in a new chapter of my life.
“To SNP members across the country: I may be leaving Parliament, but I will be by your side every step of the way as we complete our journey to independence.”
