The ideal candidate will be passionate about LGBTQ+ equality and will be a great communicator, with excellent political judgement and acumen, and the vision to galvanise the LGBTQ+ equality movement to achieve real change. You will have an excellent understanding of the Scottish political context and a track record in achieving change.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and campaigners will gather in the Scottish Parliament this evening to remember and celebrate the Stonewall uprising, which lit the spark of a movement that changed the lives of millions, in 1969.
The Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Bill had its final stage 3 debate in the Scottish Parliament, yesterday afternoon (June 7). The Bill, that pardons people convicted of the old discriminatory offences involving sex between men was passed by a vote of 119-0.
The Scottish Parliament will have the first vote today on the bill that pardons people convicted of historical discriminatory offences of sex between men. The Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Bill has its stage 1 debate in the Parliament this afternoon followed by a vote on the general principles of the bill at 5pm.
The Scottish Government’s Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Bill becomes law today. The bill provides a pardon for people who were convicted of the historical discriminatory ‘homosexual offences’ between men, which are no longer crimes. It also provides a way for people with these convictions to have them removed from their criminal records (called a ‘disregard’) so that they do not appear on criminal record checks for jobs and volunteer posts.
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, is to make a statement of apology to people convicted in the past under Scotland’s historical discriminatory “homosexual offences” laws. The apology will be made in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday November 7, to coincide with the publication of a bill to give a pardon for such convictions.
Scotland has been overtaken by Malta in the European league table of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) equality laws and policies. Scotland has dropped to second place, with a score of 82%, with Malta on 88%. Malta has risen to first place after introducing new laws protecting the rights of trans and intersex people.
The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality charity, has expressed surprise and disappointment at the position taken by the Scottish Government on the future of civil partnership.
