Members of some Scottish faith communities marched through Edinburgh in Pride Scotia 2010, at the end of last month. Their aim was to 'stand up and be counted against the growing wave of religious extremism which, all too often, preaches a message of intolerance and exclusion,' explained a spokesman.


Liberal faith communities call especially, at this time, for equality for same-sex couples, allowing them to be legally married in places of worship. Members of some of Scotland's faith communities want the Scottish government to listen to their voices, and provide equality for same-sex couples. They call for religious freedom for those faith communities, who wish to do so, to perform civil partnership ceremonies on their own premises, using the religious language of their faith traditions.

Earlier this year the Equality Act was passed, which will enable religious organisations in England and Wales, who wish to perform civil partnerships, to do so.

However, in Scotland the law on civil partnerships remains unchanged. Scottish law bans civil partnership ceremonies from taking place on religious premises or from using religious language.

Quakers, Unitarians, Jews, Buddhists and members of the Metropolitan Community Church were among those who showed support for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community of Scotland, and called for equality in Scottish law, by joining in the celebration of Pride Scotia 2010.

The multifaith banner | Mark Bitel