Scottish Parliament equal marriage bill vote expected within days

The Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee has published its report into the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, and has recommended that MSPs vote for the Bill at stage one.

The Equality Network, the Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity, has been urging MSPs to back the Bill, which will remove the final major piece of sexual orientation discrimination from the law and allow same-sex couples in Scotland to marry.

The stage one vote on the principle of the Bill is expected within days. If the Scottish Parliament votes for the Bill at stage one the Committee will consider any amendments before MSPs vote on whether to pass the final version of the Bill at stage three.

Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said:

“With just days to go before the crucial stage one vote on the equal marriage bill we urge MSPs to stand up for a fairer and more equal Scotland by giving this milestone legislation their full support. The large majority of people in Scotland believe it’s time LGBT people had full equality, including the right to marry the person they love. This bill will remove discrimination from the law and send out an important message about the kind of country we are.”

Last week the Equality Network launched their final push for equal marriage at a packed reception in the Scottish Parliament.

Over 500 supporters from across the country were addressed by speakers including Alex Neil, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for the Bill, and MSPs from across the political parties including Marco Biagi (SNP), Margaret McCulloch (Scottish Labour), Jackson Carlaw (Scottish Conservatives), Willie Rennie (Scottish Liberal Democrats) and Patrick Harvie (Scottish Green Party).

Alex Neil used his speech to urge MSPs to vote for the Bill, saying: 

“At the heart of this issue there is one simple fact, a marriage is about love, not gender. I believe it’s essential that everyone in Scotland knows they have the same rights and privileges, and the same ability to get married. I think it’s right that our national parliament takes this opportunity to send a clear signal that in modern Scotland we are passionate promoters and defenders of equality. And I am greatly encouraged that MSPs from across the chamber have indicated that they will vote for the Bill.”

The Equality Network launched Equal Marriage, the UK’s first major campaign for same-sex marriage in 2008.

The charity is urging supporters to contact their MSPs through their campaign website: http://www.equalmarriage.org.uk/itstime