All major political party youth groups unite in favour of gay and lesbian marriage in Scotland.
The youth and student wings of Scotland’s political parties have today united to demand the Scottish Parliament legalise same-sex marriage.
The leaders of SNP Students, Scottish Labour Students, Scottish Young Labour, Conservative Future Scotland, Liberal Youth Scotland, and the Scottish Young Greens have written a joint letter to every Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) calling on them to pledge their support for the Equal Marriage campaign.
In the letter, the youth leaders say ‘young people are united’ in favour of equal marriage, and argue ‘the current ban on same-sex marriage is discriminatory, and reinforces homophobia’.
The letter says: ‘Like the majority of Scots, we support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
‘We want a progressive future for Scotland, where diversity is valued, and people are treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.’
The letter was welcomed by the Equality Network who hope it will put pressure on individual MSPs from all parties to clarify their position.
However marriage equality already has widespread support in all five major Scottish political parties and the Scottish government. It is predicted it will come into law in 2013.
Tom French, policy coordinator for the Equality Network, the Edinburgh-based group at the forefront of the pro-gay marriage campaign, said: ‘Today’s letter sends out a clear message; young people want to live in a modern, tolerant and diverse Scotland, free from prejudice and discrimination. Times have moved on, and attitudes have changed. We hope the Scottish government will listen and bring forward legislation to lift the ban on same-sex marriage.’
Gail Lythgoe, convener of SNP (Scottish National Party) Students, said: ‘SNP Students supports a right to equal marriage for all those who want it and the right for all religious opinions to be respected. We believe that it is correct that there is a safeguard for those who may not want to solemnise same-sex marriages. Scotland is a place of inclusiveness, fairness and equality and it is time the law was changed to reflect these values.’
Lewis Miller, chair of Scottish Labour Students, said: ‘The ability to love one another is something we should celebrate. The love between two people does not change due to who they are and the union between these two people should not change on this basis either.’
Aric Gilinsky, president of Conservative Future Scotland, added: ‘We should all support the idea of marriage equality as our government does not have the right to say that one form of love is to be preferred to the detriment of others.’
Sophie Bridger, president of Liberal Youth Scotland, argued that having civil partnerships for gay people, although they replicate marriage, is not enough: ‘Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love. Providing separate institutions for different sexualities isn't equality, it's segregation.’
David Weir, Cconvenor of Scottish Young Greens, said: ‘By backing marriage rights for same-sex couples, Scotland can show the kind of progressive society that it wants to be in the 21st century.’
And Grant Costello, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament added: ‘The Scottish Youth Parliament are delighted to see all the youth political party wings of Scotland unite in their support for equal marriage.
‘We believe young people want to live in a truly equal Scotland, when we asked nearly 43,000 young people as part of the SYP’s Youth Manifesto, 74% supported equal marriage. We very much hope politicians will take the lead from their young counterparts and work together for equal marriage in Scotland.’
The Equal Marriage Pledge merely states: 'We support the Equal Marriage campaign to lift the ban on same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership in Scotland'. The official website includes comments from MSPs, councillors, faith groups, trade unions and others who have signed it already
Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com.
The leaders of SNP Students, Scottish Labour Students, Scottish Young Labour, Conservative Future Scotland, Liberal Youth Scotland, and the Scottish Young Greens have written a joint letter to every Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) calling on them to pledge their support for the Equal Marriage campaign.
In the letter, the youth leaders say ‘young people are united’ in favour of equal marriage, and argue ‘the current ban on same-sex marriage is discriminatory, and reinforces homophobia’.
The letter says: ‘Like the majority of Scots, we support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
‘We want a progressive future for Scotland, where diversity is valued, and people are treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.’
The letter was welcomed by the Equality Network who hope it will put pressure on individual MSPs from all parties to clarify their position.
However marriage equality already has widespread support in all five major Scottish political parties and the Scottish government. It is predicted it will come into law in 2013.
Tom French, policy coordinator for the Equality Network, the Edinburgh-based group at the forefront of the pro-gay marriage campaign, said: ‘Today’s letter sends out a clear message; young people want to live in a modern, tolerant and diverse Scotland, free from prejudice and discrimination. Times have moved on, and attitudes have changed. We hope the Scottish government will listen and bring forward legislation to lift the ban on same-sex marriage.’
Gail Lythgoe, convener of SNP (Scottish National Party) Students, said: ‘SNP Students supports a right to equal marriage for all those who want it and the right for all religious opinions to be respected. We believe that it is correct that there is a safeguard for those who may not want to solemnise same-sex marriages. Scotland is a place of inclusiveness, fairness and equality and it is time the law was changed to reflect these values.’
Lewis Miller, chair of Scottish Labour Students, said: ‘The ability to love one another is something we should celebrate. The love between two people does not change due to who they are and the union between these two people should not change on this basis either.’
Aric Gilinsky, president of Conservative Future Scotland, added: ‘We should all support the idea of marriage equality as our government does not have the right to say that one form of love is to be preferred to the detriment of others.’
Sophie Bridger, president of Liberal Youth Scotland, argued that having civil partnerships for gay people, although they replicate marriage, is not enough: ‘Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love. Providing separate institutions for different sexualities isn't equality, it's segregation.’
David Weir, Cconvenor of Scottish Young Greens, said: ‘By backing marriage rights for same-sex couples, Scotland can show the kind of progressive society that it wants to be in the 21st century.’
And Grant Costello, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament added: ‘The Scottish Youth Parliament are delighted to see all the youth political party wings of Scotland unite in their support for equal marriage.
‘We believe young people want to live in a truly equal Scotland, when we asked nearly 43,000 young people as part of the SYP’s Youth Manifesto, 74% supported equal marriage. We very much hope politicians will take the lead from their young counterparts and work together for equal marriage in Scotland.’
The Equal Marriage Pledge merely states: 'We support the Equal Marriage campaign to lift the ban on same-sex marriage and mixed-sex civil partnership in Scotland'. The official website includes comments from MSPs, councillors, faith groups, trade unions and others who have signed it already
Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com.
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