Hallelujah! - Scotland set to legalise gay marriage

[Mythman]

[QUOTE][B]Gay marriage to be introduced in Scotland[/B]

Scotland is set to become the first part of the UK to introduce gay marriage after the SNP government announced plans to make the change.

Scottish ministers confirmed they would bring forward a bill on the issue.

Political leaders, equality groups welcomed the move, but it has been strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and Church of Scotland.

The announcement was made in the wake of a government consultation which produced a record 77,508 responses.

Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.

The Scottish government said;

- it would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws, to ensure those views were safeguarded and protect celebrants from legal or disciplinary action if they refuse to take part or speak out against same sex ceremonies.
- a bill would be brought forward to the Scottish Parliament to bring in the change.

Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships - we believe that this is the right thing to do.

"We are also mindful of the fact that the leaders of all of the other parties represented in parliament support same sex marriage and that there is significant parliamentary support for legislation."

She went on: "The Scottish government has already made clear that no religious body will be compelled to conduct same sex marriages and we reiterate that today. Such protection is provided for under existing equality laws.

[B]Gay marriage consultation[/B]

The Scottish government held a public consultation into the issue of same-sex marriage. It had the biggest response of any Scottish government consultation. There were 77,508 responses in total, with 14,779 from outside Scotland. [U]Some 64% of those who responded [including postcard and petition responses] said they were against same-sex marriage.[/U] "However, our view is that to give certainty on protection for individual celebrants taking a different view from a religious body that does agree to conduct same sex marriages, an amendment will be required to the UK Equality Act."

The Scottish government said it was now going ahead with another consultation to consider what extra measures are needed to guarantee freedom of speech, including the protection of religious beliefs of teachers and parents in schools.

There will also be a consultation on the bill itself, to be published later this year.

Ministers said the Scottish Catholic Education Service would continue to decide on the faith content of the curriculum in Catholic denominational schools.

Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said: "The Scottish government have shown their determination to make Scotland a more progressive country.

"With cross-party support for equality in the Scottish Parliament, we would expect that this change can be passed next year."

Mr French added: "Same-sex marriage is about equality and freedom - the freedom for couples, and religious and humanist groups that want to, to celebrate same-sex marriages, but equally, upholding the freedom of other religious groups to say no to same-sex marriages.

"That's the right way for Scotland to deal with the different opinions on this."

Despite opposition by the big religions, faith groups, including the United Reformed Church, the Quakers, Buddhists and the Pagan Federation back gay marriage.

The issue also caused a split in the SNP, after a parliamentary motion tabled by party MSP John Mason, stating no person or organisation should be forced to be involved in or to approve of same-sex marriage, led to accusations by some of his colleagues that his actions encouraged discrimination.

Gordon Wilson, a former SNP leader, has also warned plans for same-sex marriage could "alienate" people considering voting for independence in the 2014 referendum.

Civil partnerships in Scotland offer the same legal treatment as marriage in areas such as inheritance, pensions provision, life assurance, child maintenance, next of kin and immigration rights, but are still seen as distinct from marriage.

A man and a woman can opt for a religious or civil marriage ceremony, whereas a same-sex partnership is an exclusively civil procedure.

The UK government, which is consulting on changing the status of civil ceremonies to allow gay and lesbian couples in England and Wales to get married, wants to make the change by 2015. [/QUOTE]

Devolution has finally brought about something good. Although they seem to be going against the will of the majority of respondents (not very democratic?).

[Slugathor]

YEAH!! SHAGADELIC!

[Col. Buggernuts]

I find it amusing that the first part of the UK to legalise gay marriage is the one which least wants it :v:

[Instant Mix]

Good. I've not noticed any real problems or stigma up here against lesbian and gay couples, surprisingly.

[quote]There were 77,508 responses in total, with 14,779 from outside Scotland[/quote]

Those 14,779 shouldn't have been taken at all, and we have a population level of roughly 5,222,100 , so there was actually only a sampled area of under 1% of the total population. Nor does it state where those figures came from, as there are certain areas which are definitely opposed to same sex marriage ( ie. motherwell and the east end of glasgow) , and the usual knowledge than you'll complain about something rather than compliment it.
I would take those figures with a kilogram of salt.

[joe588]

hurrah! me and carlbooth can finally show the lord our whole commitment after years of merely fondling. been waiting for a crack on his arse for a while but being good christians we've abstained.

<3

[Col. Buggernuts]

[QUOTE=Instant Mix;36926653]Those 14,779 shouldn't have been taken at all, and we have a population level of roughly 5,222,100 , so there was actually only a sampled area of under 1% of the total population.
I would take those figures with a kilogram of salt.[/QUOTE]The ones from outside Scotland are likely expats, and you're clearly not familiar with how statistics work.

[Cypher_09]

I wonder why we haven't legalised it here in England yet? We already allow civil partnerships and gay adoption; the country is very very very tolerant as a whole and the Pride parades are always advertised well.

Give it a year or maybe even less.

[Jetblack357]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Fkuq5Lf0Q[/media]

Hallelujah?

[Deleted359224]

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;36926920]I wonder why we haven't legalised it here in England yet? We already allow civil partnerships and gay adoption; the country is [b]very very very tolerant[/b] as a whole and the Pride parades are always advertised well.

Give it a year or maybe even less.[/QUOTE]

Not really.

[Cypher_09]

[QUOTE=Livewire2440;36928443]Not really.[/QUOTE]

Why did you not embolden "as a whole"? Don't snip out half of the sentence like the media would and use it against me.

[MystFoxcoon]

Yess

Another country to switch over. Its slow, but more and more countries are going to legalize it i'm sure.

*coughusacough*

[Zillamaster55]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9D7oeM3zd8[/media]

Well a totally different freedom, but you get the point.

(Scotland forever!)

[smurfy]

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;36926920]I wonder why we haven't legalised it here in England yet? We already allow civil partnerships and gay adoption; the country is very very very tolerant as a whole and the Pride parades are always advertised well.

Give it a year or maybe even less.[/QUOTE]

The whole UK is legalising it by 2015, they're taking their time though because it's going to be another backbench Conservative rebellion

[Cypher_09]

[QUOTE=smurfy;36928685]The whole UK is legalising it by 2015, they're taking their time though because it's going to be another backbench Conservative rebellion[/QUOTE]

I see, but I thought even David Cameron was for legalizing it too?

[smurfy]

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;36929309]I see, but I thought even David Cameron was for legalizing it too?[/QUOTE]

Cameron and the Conservative ministers are for it but many of the MPs aren't, they're also going to allow a free vote so there'll be no pressure on them to vote yes

But Labour, the Lib Dems and a decent number of Conservatives support it so it's not a real problem, just that Cameron isn't exactly eager to rush into having a bunch of his MPs vote against him

[Cypher_09]

[QUOTE=smurfy;36929356]Cameron and the Conservative ministers are for it but many of the MPs aren't, they're also going to allow a free vote so there'll be no pressure on them to vote yes

But Labour, the Lib Dems and a decent number of Conservatives support it so it's not a real problem, just that Cameron isn't exactly eager to rush into having a bunch of his MPs vote against him[/QUOTE]

At least they'll be (or rather should be) aware that almost all other countries and states in the western world are expecting them to make the right decision