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Content about Patrick Harvie

May 23, 2013
Scotland urged to speed up gay marriage legislation

Scots gay rights campaigners and politicians tell Scottish government to act now so that Scotland does not fall behind England and Wales in legalizing marriage equality

Scottish LGBT rights campaigners and leading politicians have called upon Scotland’s government to publish a timetable for the introduction of a marriage equality bill.

The move comes after the UK House of Commons have voted for marriage equality; with a final vote in the House of Lords expected soon, commentators say Edinburgh is falling behind England and Wales.

Speaking with Gay Star News, Colin McFarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland commented: 'The Commons overwhelmingly voted to extend the legal form of marriage to same-sex couples in England and Wales.

December 13, 2012
Scotland unveils draft gay marriage bill

Scotland makes history by becoming the first part of the United Kingdom to publish legislation to allow same-sex marriage

The Scottish government launched the ‘Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill’, which will introduce marriage equality, yesterday (12 December) alongside a 14-week consultation on its implementation.

The draft legislation will allow same-sex marriage in Scotland and give all religious and belief bodies (for example Humanist) the right to conduct same-sex marriages, if they wish to do so.

The bill will also remove the requirement on a married or civil partnered transgender person to divorce before obtaining full Gender Recognition.

July 15, 2012
Record numbers attend gay Pride Glasgow

Scotland's premier LGBT festival and gay pride parade draws unprecedented amount of party-goers

This weekend saw Scotland’s biggest ever LGBT event in history with over 6,000 marching and partying, claims event Pride Glasgow director Ross Stevenson.

Saturday’s (15 July) Pride Glasgow kicked off at noon with the parade march from Kelvingrove Park, in the West End to George Square, in the city center.

Upon arrival participants took part in a political rally and then were treated to a fantastic street party at the square.

June 29, 2012
Scotland poll: three in five gays face hate

Major poll reveals homophobia and transphobia widespread in Scotland but a majority of Scots support same-sex marriage

A poll of 1,968 people conducted by YouGov for Stonewall Scotland has revealed that three in five people believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Scots face public prejudice in Scotland today.

But more than four in five in Scotland say it’s right to tackle that prejudice.

February 1, 2012
Gay marriage ‘will come to Scotland in 2013’

Politicians predict full marriage equality for gays and lesbians within 12 to 18 months at Scottish Parliament reception

Marriage equality for same-sex couples could become a reality in Scotland in 12 to 18 months says MSP Jackie Baillie of the Scottish Labour Party.

Speaking to Gay Star News at a parliamentary reception in Edinburgh for equal marriage on Tuesday evening (1 February) she did admit that it could be dangerous for a politician to make predictions.

‘But I would say [marriage equality] it would be 18 months at the outside – but definitely next year,’ she said.