The University of Edinburgh’s Amnesty International Society is among many groups working in support of the Scottish Government’s Same Sex Marriage Consultation.
Yesterday dressed in wedding clothes, the group collected consultation forms both on Princes Street and outside The Scottish Parliament.
At present only Civil Partnerships are available to homosexual couples so for 14 weeks, which began on 2 September, The Scottish Government has asked for public input on this matter.
The consultation investigates three issues:- same sex marriage, religious ceremonies for civil partnerships and whether it is ethical to force religious groups to participate.
The Scottish Social Attitudes survey formed the basis for the consultation. In 2010 the survey found a 60% approval rate and 19% disapproval rate for same sex marriage.
If the consultation finds similar results, the Government may draft legislation Any legislation might be presented to the Scottish Parliament in 2013.
With the consultation deadline approaching, the issue has been subject to much debate, so yesterday, the Amnesty International Group took part in action to attract attention for the movement. They also collected completed consultation documentation which will be used by the Government to gain public support for the movement.
Commenting on the current situation, Amnesty Chair, Laura Shepherd said:- “No-one should be denied their human rights based on their sexuality.”
She elaborated on the wide reaching effects of the ban:-“The current system also denies the rights of transgender people, many of whom are currently forced to divorce in order to receive gender recognition.”
“Scotland has the opportunity to be at the forefront of the international trend towards protecting the rights of same sex couples.”
The Amnesty Group met and participated in a photo shoot with Edinburgh Central SNP MSP Marco Biagi.
Biagi has long supported the legalisation of same sex marriage and the increase of gay representation in Parliament, and said:- “Discrimination on sexual grounds should be a thing of the past.”
He went on to comment that among the groups showing support are several religious organisations, who are “calling for the right” to endorse civil partnerships and carry out marriages.
Among these groups are the Unitarians, Liberal Jews, Quakers, the Metropolitan Community Church and the Pagan Federation, representatives from each of which took part in a conference on marriage equality in September.
The conference’s panel remarked on the “intolerable intrusion” of the current ban on religious freedom.
However, Biagi also stressed the importance of “sufficiently motivated” individuals in the consultation; it is their responses that will make a decisive difference.
Supporters should contact The Scottish Government; this issue has now moved beyond the influence of MSPs.
While Biagi is hopeful, he is aware that it will be a long process and will need further support and work.
Anyone wishing to be part of the consultation should complete a form by the 9th of December.
They are available from the Potterrow EUSA office and online
