NEWS RELEASE – Scotland must set the pace on same-sex marriage

Greens have welcomed today’s demonstration of cross-party support for legislation lifting the ban on same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership in Scotland, and have called for a Bill to be published this year.

Patrick Harvie MSP joined with all other opposition leaders in signing the Equal Marriage campaign’s pledge of support, ahead of what is expected to be the most well-attended reception ever hosted at Holyrood since the creation of the Scottish Parliament.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“It’s really encouraging to see so much support for Equal Marriage both inside Parliament and outside, and all that’s needed is for the Government to come forward with the legislation.

“I see no reason why a Bill couldn’t be published this year, and I’m convinced that when MSPs have the chance to vote on this, Scotland will once again set the pace of change for the rest of the UK by backing equality for same-sex couples. This is a vital signal about the kind of progressive society that Scotland wants to be in the 21st century.”

Same sex marriage and civil partnership – consultation response

I have today sent my response to the Government’s consultation on same sex marriage and civil partnership. If you haven’t sent yours in yet, you have until Friday the 9th of December… not long! You can use this web version to submit your response.

Here’s the introduction I sent with my response:

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to this consultation and congratulate the Scottish Government not only on the decision to publish it, but also on the expression of the initial view in favour of equal marriage.

One of my last tasks as a youth worker supporting LGBT young people was the development of a training exercise for mainstream youth workers, which involved asking participants to place various events along a timeline. In trialling this with LGBT young people, I can remember the looks of puzzlement from a group of 16-20 year olds on being asked if they knew when male homosexuality had been decriminalised. This group of young people was growing up free of the idea that they would ever have been seen as criminal. While it says a lot about the lack of visibility of LGBT history, that moment also represented a kind of hope. One day, not so very long from now, I hope to see a group of young people express the same puzzlement and incomprehension on learning that same-sex couples were ever denied the right to marry.

Download my full consultation response here.

Poll: public back church plans for same-sex marriages

A poll published today by the Daily Mail shows remarkable support for churches who wish to conduct same-sex marriages, with 50% of Scots supporting the bid and just 36% opposed. (1)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Taken alongside the widespread support for equal access to civil marriage, this is an extraordinary result, and shows a strong groundswell of support for those churches who want to marry same-sex couples. Increasingly, most Scots don’t regard same-sex couples as anything unusual: these couples are friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.

“On this issue the SNP have stood up to the vested minority interests and the remaining Dark Ages attitudes that have held Scotland back from reform on this issue. We will work with them, as will MSPs from other opposition parties, and I believe we will set an example that the rest of the UK will quickly follow.”

Notes

1. The poll of 1233 Scottish adults was conducted between 16 November and 18 November by Progressive Scottish Opinion. The question asked was:
“To what extent do you agree or disagree that gay couples should be allowed to marry in Scotland’s churches?”
Strongly agree: 19%
Agree: 31%
Neither agree nor disagree: 14%
Disagree: 18%
Strongly disagree: 18%

NEWS RELEASE – Consultation opens on same sex marriage

Greens welcomed the accelerated consultation into same-sex marriage launched today by SNP Ministers (1), and argued that strong support for the move shown over the summer recess has helped to move the timetable forward. Formal consultation had not been expected until spring 2012, but the party believes that the cross-party backing for Patrick Harvie’s amendment (2) has given confidence that a Parliamentary majority exists for the principle of equality. The party believes all couples should have the right to civil partnerships or marriage, as suits them, and that faith groups which wish to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies should be permitted to do so.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Marriage and family law should be about love and commitment, and the perception of same-sex relationships as somehow wrong or second class is destined for the dustbin of history. There are practical issues about how to get the details of legislation right, and this consultation will resolve those matters. But the principle must be clear – and I call for a commitment for legislation to be introduced in 2012.

“The initial view expressed by SNP Ministers is welcome, but we now need to keep up the pace and ensure that the law catches up with public opinion. There is no reason why we should be waiting till halfway through the current Parliament before we see legislation passed at Holyrood, and if we move quickly we will put real pressure on the UK Government to act as well.

“If Scotland moves before the rest of the UK, coalition Ministers must either give full recognition to same-sex marriages, including those of English and Welsh residents who travel north of the border for their ceremonies, or leave themselves facing a charge of prejudice and hypocrisy. This could be another issue where Scotland’s Parliament leads to progress throughout the whole UK.”

Notes

1. See:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/law/17867/samesex

2. Motion S4M-00586.1 – Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Scottish Green Party) : The Equal Marriage Debate attracted the support of 47 other MSPs. With the addition of Government ministers, this suggests a Parliamentary division on the issue would gain a minimum of 67 votes, two more than is needed for a majority.

Greens reject antiquated opposition to equal marriage

Green MSP Patrick Harvie today rejected a motion from SNP MSP John Mason on equal access to marriage as muddled, inconsistent and out of date.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“John Mason’s attitudes to equal rights seem stuck in the dark ages, and raising a spurious objection about freedom of speech is nothing but a distraction. Members of Parliament should be recognising the groundswell of support for family law to be about love and commitment, not sexual orientation. They should be representing the views of the people, not delivering misleading attacks on campaigns for equality and defending outdated and intolerant attitudes.

“Many progressive SNP MSPs will be holding their heads in their hands today to read what John Mason has written. Perhaps someone could sit down with him and explain that two men or two women deciding to get married doesn’t infringe the rights of heterosexual couples who want to marry, and that there’s no secret gay agenda to undermine society, just a campaign to be allowed to play a full part in it.

“The current system of family law goes by the out-dated notion of ’separate but equal’, and it fails to recognise people’s relationships on their own terms. Moving to properly equal marriage would also allow religious groups to make their own minds up – groups like the Quakers and the Unitarians back equal marriage and wish to be allowed to conduct marriages for everyone in their congregations irrespective of sexuality. Scotland’s ready to take the next step towards full equality, and it’s now up to the SNP to deliver it, not get sidetracked by the likes of Mr Mason.”

Notes

1. The motion in the name of John Mason MSP reads as follows:

S4M-00586 John Mason (Scottish National Party): That the Parliament notes the current discussion about same-sex marriages and the Scottish Government’s forthcoming public consultation concerning equal marriage; further notes that while some in society approve of same-sex sexual relationships, others do not agree with them; desires that Scotland should be a pluralistic society where all minorities can live together in peace and mutual tolerance; believes that free speech is a fundamental right and that even when there is disagreement with another person’s views, that person has the right to express these views, and considers that no person or organisation should be forced to be involved in or to approve of same-sex marriages.

Patrick Harvie MSP’s amendment reads as follows.

Delete from “desires” and insert:

“notes that the balance between these views has changed substantially over recent decades, with the 2006 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey showing 53% in agreement with equal marriage and only 21% in disagreement, and a poll in 2010 showing 58% support with only 19% against; congratulates the Scottish Youth Parliament on the launch of its Love Equally campaign for equal marriage and civil partnership, a campaign it voted to select after consulting with over 42,000 young people across Scotland; believes that the Scottish Government is recognising this shift in public attitudes with its forthcoming consultation on equal marriage; recognises that allowing same sex marriage and mixed sex civil partnerships would in no way undermine the rights and freedoms of whose who do not wish to participate in them; and further believes it would be both right and popular for secular and religious Scots alike to be free to reach their own view on the legal status that is right for their own relationship, instead of being banned by law from having their relationships recognised on equal terms.”