Scottish parlimentarians urged to ‘lift the ban on same-sex marriage’
Requesting a 'lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage'
Politicians and faith groups in Scotland are urging the Scottish Parliament to take the lead on equality by ‘lifting the ban on same-sex marriage’. Quakers are among the supporters of the Equal Marriage Campaign, which is backed by Amnesty International and a cross-party group of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).
They propose that any couple, whether same-sex or mixed-sex, should have the option of either a marriage or a civil partnership. They want all religious and humanist groups to be allowed to solemnise legal weddings. But they emphasise that they do not want any faith group to be forced to carry out same-sex marriages if they do not wish to.
Religious organisations formally allied to the campaign include the Metropolitan Community Church and the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Jews. While Friends in Scotland have not yet given their formal endorsement, individual Quakers are involved at the grassroots.
The campaign has now been backed by one of Scotland’s most senior Anglican clergymen. Kelvin Holdsworth, provost of Glasgow’s Episcopal Cathedral, said: ‘Civil partnerships have been a wonderful thing, but they are not equal’.
The group Christian Concern For Our Nation argue that the change would undermine marriage. Kelvin Holdsworth described this argument as ‘silly’ and said he is supporting marriage, not attacking it.
Scotland is unaffected by a clause in the recent Equality Act that will allow religious elements in civil partnerships in England and Wales. Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) were heavily involved in pushing for the change, after agreeing last year to treat same-sex and mixed-sex marriages in the same way.
Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone is meeting religious groups, including Quakers, to discuss how this change in the law will be implemented. She met last week with the gay and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who urged her to go further by ending the ‘two-tier system’ and allowing the term ‘marriage’ to be available in same-sex relationships.
Peter Tatchell told the Friend that he hopes Quakers will ‘conduct same-sex marriages in defiance of the law’. He said this ‘would generate massive media coverage and public debate. It would put pressure on the government to review the ban. I urge Quakers to make good their commitment to marriage equality.’
A Populus poll for the Times last year showed sixty-one percent of the UK public supporting same-sex marriage, with thirty-three percent opposed.
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