The furore surrounding the placement of transgender offenders in Scottish prisons has sharpened personal safety fears across Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community, the Guardian has been told. Soon after Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation on Wednesday, Scottish equalities campaigners expressed unease at the loss of such a visible LGBTQ+ ally. But even before then, campaign groups and individuals reported that the political tone and relentless media coverage around the case of Isla Bryson, the double rapist whose initial remand at a women’s prison caused an outcry almost three weeks ago, was contributing to a climate of escalating hostility towards trans people online and on the street.