Survey: One-In-Three Men In Scotland Disapprove Of Same-Sex Relationships

Scots celebrate Glasgow Pride

A new poll shows almost one-third of men in Scotland disapprove of same-sex relationships, reports UK news site iNews.

The survey, conducted by polling company Survation, found 28% of male Scots feel same-sex relations are ‘wrong.’

This is in stark contrast to only 13% of women in Scotland who feel the same way.

Across the board, 1 in 5 Scots (20%) do not approve of gay relationships.

This data comes as a bit surprising for a country often viewed as LGBTQ-friendly.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Scotland on December 16, 2014.

The government has announced plans to introduce the world’s first LGBTQ school curriculum and could soon be the first country in the United Kingdom to officially recognize a third gender as recent polling shows 56% support for full legal recognition of non-binary people.

The director of Stonewall Scotland, Colin Macfarlane, says the new survey underscores why the LGBTQ community can’t become ‘complacent.’

“We know that in Scotland one in five people have experienced a hate crime in the last year because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Macfarlane told iNews.

“We know that only half of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people feel comfortable being open about their sexual orientation or gender identity with their family and two in five trans people avoid certain streets because they don’t feel safe,” he added. “Scotland has changed for the better over the course of the last 30 years, but there is much more to be done before everyone is accepted without exception.”

Gordon MacRae, chief executive for the Humanist Society Scotland which commissioned the survey, said, “It is disappointing to see continued opposition to same-sex relationships amongst a minority but nevertheless sizeable proportion of the community.”

“There clearly continues to be work done to ensure Scotland is a fully inclusive nation for LGBT people,” he added.

(h/t iNews)

News Round-Up: November 14, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• You know what gets you over Hump Day? A dog. Or, more dogs. And InstaHunk Dan Tai (above).

• Rapper Yung Miami has said she would ‘beat’ her son if he came out as gay.

• Donald Trump will skip the Kennedy Center Honors for the second year because no one likes him.

• LGBT people made up 6% of voters in the midterm elections and 82% supported Democratic candidates.

• A gay Baltimore fitness trainer was murdered in his own apartment.

• Scotland will be the world's first country to teach LGBTQ inclusivity and history in all public school nationwide

• Chicago the Musical celebrates 22 years on Broadway today!

I was lucky to be part of the Broadway cast as one of the earliest replacements. The show would end up hiring me 14 times from 1998 to 2013 to get down in 'all that jazz.' Thank you, Ann Reinking.

This pic was from my last stage appearance in 2013 at the Hollywood Bowl in Chicago as I turned 50. #TheGiftThatKeepsGiving #BlackSexyClothes

News Round-Up: July 15, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Spanish math teacher (can you imagine???) Manu strikes a heroic pose for his love: ""I could face and defeat the most dangerous monster just for your love." #swoon

• A gay porn star proposed to his boyfriend after the couple had just finished shooting a scene. Who says romance is dead?

• Scottish First Minister Ncola Sturgeon, the head of government for Scotland, led Glasgow’s Pride parade Saturday, becoming the first serving prime minister or first minister in the U.K. to lead any Pride event.

• Queen Elizabeth was on her own during Donald Trump's visit to the UK as Princes Harry and William refused to meet Donald Trump.

• Appearing on a panel with Pose co-creator Ryan Murphy in Los Angeles last Thursday, transgender writer/director Janet Mock, shared she never dreamed of directing television. “Directing was never on my list of things -- I didn’t think it was a possibility." Mock recently made history as the first trans woman of color to write and direct an episode for mainstream television.

• In an interview airing today with CBS News, Donald Trump says it never occurred to him to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to extradite the dozen Russian officials charged with hacking Democratic emails earlier this week.

Isn't he supposed to defend the United States???

WATCH: President Trump tells @CBSEveningNews' @jeffglor that he is going into the Helsinki summit with "low expectations" and that he will consider asking Russia to extradite agents indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. More on @FaceTheNation Sunday. https://t.co/59FYX8FTIg pic.twitter.com/u0rwS8rkxk

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 15, 2018

Scotland Issues Apology For Gay Sex Convictions In The Past

The government in Scotland has issued an official apology to gay men who were convicted of same-sex activity in the past. In doing so, the men or their families will be able to clear their names.

From Reuters:

"It is only right that we address this historic wrong," First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament.

"Discriminatory laws, although abolished, continue to have implications for people to this day," she added. "The wrong has been committed by the state to them, not by the individuals."

She added: "I categorically, unequivocally and wholeheartedly apologize for those laws and for the hurt and the harm they did to so many."

Watching from the gallery, same-sex couples wept, held hands and applauded.

Consensual homosexual acts between men aged over 21 in Scotland were decriminalized in 1981.

"(The) apology will give a great deal of comfort to many who were unjustly prosecuted and will help draw a line, once and for all, under a dark period in Scotland's history," gay rights group Stonewall said in a statement.

Tweet Of The Day

GOP presidential candidate gloating over Britain voting to leave the EU earned this response to his tweet.

If you read the news, Scotland voted to STAY in the EU by a vote of 62% - 38%. Scotland is now looking at a referendum aimed at leaving Britain so as to stay in the EU.

Britain Votes To Leave EU

Brexit vote has been counted and Britain has has voted to leave the European Union.

From the New York Times:

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision sure to reshape the nation’s place in the world, rattle the Continent and rock political establishments throughout the West.

With 309 of 382 of the country’s cities and towns reporting early on Friday, the Leave campaign held a 52 percent to 48 percent lead. The BBC called the race for the Leave campaign shortly before 4:45 a.m., with 13.1 million votes having been counted in favor of leaving and 12.2 million in favor of remaining.

The value of the British pound dropped to a 31 year low as financial markets absorbed the news.

World stock markets fell dramatically, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average which fell 500 points upon opening today.

$56 billion wiped from the Australian stock market as a result of the Brexit vote, @Ross_Greenwood reports. #9News https://t.co/Cr9vDubgid

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 24, 2016

Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned over the news saying Britain needs "fresh leadership."

Scotland is now looking at a new referendum on independence from Britain in light of the decision to leave the EU. Scotland, as a whole, voted 62% - 38% to stay in the EU.

Video - Nicola Sturgeon says a new Scotland independence referendum is 'on the table' #EURefResults #BrexitVotehttps://t.co/StwCPXkL5V

— 5News (@5_News) June 24, 2016

Same-Sex Marriage Begins In Scotland!

Congratulations to everybody taking part in the first same-sex marriage ceremonies in Scotland tonight #equalmarriage pic.twitter.com/ttbJbGf6yC
— LGBT Labour (@LGBTLabour) December 30, 2014

Check out Joe and Malx, who were the very first gay couple to marry in Scotland last night at the stroke of midnight. Congratulations Scotland!

Hey Hey Hey, Scotland! Marriage Equality Has Arrived! Get Those Kilts On!

Scotland's new law on same-sex marriages has come into effect http://t.co/PRlKep0Kc3 pic.twitter.com/SVibusNyva
— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) December 16, 2014

Scotland votes to remain with United Kingdom

Scotland has voted, and the people have decided by a vote of 55% - 45% to continue the country's 307 year history with England. The "no" votes win.

From ABC News:

While voters in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, voted in favor of independence, voters in the capital of Edinburgh and the country's oil center of Aberdeen cast their ballots Thursday against it, keeping Scotland in the union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"I accept that verdict of the people, and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit, and accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland," Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said from Edinburgh.

Scotland hopes to offer asylum to persecuted LGBT Ugandans

Scotland's Minister of External Affairs hopes to offer asylum to LGBT Ugandans who feel persecuted by "Anti-Homosexuality Act" in Uganda.

Via Herald Scotland:

Scotland is to offer asylum to Ugandans facing persecution under the country's oppressive new legislation against its gay population.

Humza Yousaf, Minister For External Affairs, has written to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague detailing the Scottish Government's gesture to welcome "any Ugandan" persecuted by the new laws.

It comes on the back of an outcry from the international community at the Ugandan anti-gay legislation and concern over the welcome being extended to countries with anti-gay laws during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

With prominent members of the Ugandan government due in Glasgow this summer, the Scottish Government will also meet representatives of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) groups to discuss proposals on handling human rights issues during the event.

Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni this week signed a bill that includes life sentences for gay sex and same-sex marriage.

Scotland: Marriage equality passes 105-18

The Associated Press reports that the Scottish Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a same-sex marriage bill, allowing the first such ceremonies to take place by the end of the year.

Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil called the bill's approval "one of the great historic days of the parliament."

Good times, kids.  Remember this... :)

Marriage equality passes in Scotland!

Scotland's Parliament today voted by 105 to 18 on final approval of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill.  The first Scottish gay and lesbian weddings will take place sometime this fall.

The Scottish government said the move was the right thing to do but Scotland's two main churches were opposed to it.

Churches and religious organizations will have the option to choose whether or not to perform same-sex marriages.  No part of the religious community will be forced to hold same-sex marriage ceremonies in churches.

Freedom to Marry founder and president Evan Wolfson issued this statement:

With the freedom to marry bill clearing its final hurdle in Scotland today, same-sex couples can finally share in the freedom to marry alongside their neighbors in England and Wales. Today’s win comes after a rich and extensive debate, and after an overwhelming victory in its previous parliamentary vote. Freedom to Marry looks forward from afar to seeing the first Scottish marriages performed in autumn; and will continue working along the Roadmap to Victory needed to ensure that the United States joins them on the right side of history.

(source)

Scotland's marriage equality bill to be given final approval today

The final vote on marriage equality today will take place today in Scotland.

Although LGBT couples in Scotland have civil partnership protections, the Marriage and Civil Partnerships Bill would provide full marriage equality to Scots.

The legislation is expected to pass with a wide margin.

From BBC:

The legislation, which is facing its final vote in the Holyrood parliament, passed its previous parliamentary hurdle by 98 votes to 15, with five abstentions.

MSPs have been allowed a free vote, rather than along party lines, and voting numbers for the last stage are expected to remain broadly the same as on the previous occasion.

Gay rights organisations, including the Equality Network and Stonewall Scotland, and a range of other groups, have supported the legislation.

But the Scottish Catholic Church and Church of Scotland oppose the move, and have said they have no plans to conduct same-sex marriages.

Same-sex marriages will begin in England and Wales on March 29th.

Scotland's new law won't take effect until later this fall.

Solid majority of Scotland supports marriage equality

A majority of Scots back same-sex marriage, according to the most detailed survey of public opinion since MSPs began moves to change the law.


A YouGov poll shows 56% of Scots support the legislation going through Holyrood. However a significant minority - 35% - are opposed, while 8% are unsure.

The findings were welcomed by campaigners for same-sex marriage who said MSPs should "take heart" from the level of support among the public.

At Holyrood all the main parties support the move, though individual MSPs have been allowed to vote according to their conscience.

A final vote is due next year but opinion at Holyrood is not thought likely to change significantly following detailed scrutiny of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill. The first gay ceremonies are expected in early 2015.

Under the Scottish Government's proposals, religious and faith organisations would "opt in" to perform same-sex marriages if they accepted the idea.

(via HeraldScotland.com)

It's Time - Scotland's marriage equality video

Scotland: Marriage equality by 2013?

The Scottish government has introduced a draft version of its marriage equality bill.  Via Gay Star News:

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. In addition the bill will introduce religious and belief ceremonies for civil partnerships. Finally, the bill will allow civil marriages to take place anywhere a couple and their registrar choose. The Scottish government will now be consulting on the implementation of the draft bill, including the details of the legislation and proposals relating to religious bodies and celebrants, freedom of speech, education and employment. Following the close of the public consultation on 20 March, the Scottish government will make any changes to the bill that are considered necessary, then introduce the bill for a vote into the Scottish parliament.

The bill may become law by the end of 2013.

Scotland poised to introduce same-sex marriage

Scotland could become the first part of the UK to introduce gay marriage after the SNP government announced plans to make the change.

Ministers confirmed they would bring forward a bill on the issue, indicating the earliest ceremonies could take place by the start of 2015.

Political leaders, equality organisations and some faith groups welcomed introducing same-sex marriage.

Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.

The Scottish government said it would work with UK ministers to amend equality laws to protect celebrants from legal or disciplinary action if they refuse to take part or speak out against same-sex ceremonies.

Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships - we believe that this is the right thing to do.

More at BBC.uk.co