Equality campaigners are celebrating tonight as Scotland’s equal marriage bill passed its first vote in the Scottish Parliament by an overwhelming majority.
The Equality Network, the Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity that runs the Equal Marriage campaign, welcomed the vote as a huge step towards a fairer and more equal Scotland.
Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “Tonight the Scottish Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority to back same-sex marriage and uphold the principle that we should all be equal under the law. This vote is a huge step forward which will send out a strong message that LGBT people are equal and valued members of our society. While there is still more work to do to improve the bill and ensure it becomes law, LGBT people across the country will be celebrating this significant milestone in the journey towards full equality.”
Earlier this afternoon the Equality Network held a final push rally outside the Scottish Parliament, joined by supporters, same-sex couples, faith leaders, and leading MSPs from across the political parties including Alex Neil MSP, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for the Bill.
Now that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill has passed its stage one vote it will return to the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee who will consider amendments before MSPs vote on a final version of the Bill at stage three early in 2014.
Opinion polls have shown consistent public support for same-sex marriage across Scotland. The most recent poll was conducted in June 2012 by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Equality Network. It showed record support with 64% of Scots in favour of same-sex marriage, and just 26% opposed. Separate polls conducted over the past three years by Populus, YouGov, Angus Reid, and the independent Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, have all shown similar levels of support.
Equal marriage is fast becoming an international norm. Most countries around Scotland already have same-sex marriage, including Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal. While the UK parliament passed same-sex marriage legislation for England and Wales earlier this year, and Ireland has announced it will hold a vote in 2015.
The Equality Network launched Equal Marriage, the UK’s first major campaign for same-sex marriage in 2008. In the past fortnight the charity has distributed a new booklet to MSPs which sets out the case for passing the Bill, while its supporters have sent over 15,000 emails to their MSPs urging a change in the law.
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