I raised gay marriage issue to ensure balanced debate, says defiant MSP

Published on Sunday 7 August 2011 17:36

A NATIONALIST politician remains defiant after striking sparks on the issue of gay marriage, saying he stepped in to stop the controversial debate flowing in one direction.

John Mason, who was elected to Holyrood in May, was publicly criticised by some party colleagues for claiming in a parliamentary motion that no-one should be forced to approve of same-sex marriage.

The SNP is committed to a consultation on the subject, due to be held later this year.

The Shettleston MSP, who is a practising Baptist, spoke out to defend his view, adding that fears remained that churches could be taken to court if they refused to carry out ceremonies under any future change to legislation.

Mr Mason's intervention came on the day SNP MEP Alyn Smith hit out at "bigots" who refused to allow equality.

Writing in The Scotsman's sister newspaper Scotland on Sunday yesterday, Mr Smith said: "What is in the small, mean, angry heads of bigots is a matter for them. I never asked for their approval, but I demand equality."

Those comments followed an intervention from SNP MP Pete Wishart, who wrote on Twitter: "John Mason's nasty little anti-gay marriage motion is just wrong, and really disappointed that other colleagues have signed it."

Green party co-leader Patrick Harvie said that the motion was "specifically anti-gay".

And the Labour deputy leader at Holyrood, Johann Lamont, called for First Minister Alex Salmond to distance himself from what she called a "coded attack" on gay people.

Mr Mason said yesterday: "Clearly, right from the word go, there's been a commitment to move forward gay marriage.

"I want to say something to get the debate going here so it's not just flowing in the one direction. I'm perfectly relaxed about gay marriage, but the fear amongst some of the churches is that if they're allowed to carry out same-sex marriage, some will and some won't.

"The next step will be that someone goes to a church that doesn't want to and it will get taken to court.

"I'm assured that's not the intention, but I think that it will happen.

"Whatever is put within Scottish legislation, the fear is it would be overtaken by equality legislation at Westminster."

He accepted the strong feelings sparked by his comments and said: "That's just part of politics. I knew something like this was going to happen."

Mr Mason's motion is supported by three SNP MSPs: Bill Walker, Richard Lyle and Dave Thompson.

An SNP spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is committed to holding a consultation on the issues of same-sex marriage and civil partnership, beginning later this year, and there is agreement within and across parties that religious celebrants who do not wish to conduct same-sex marriage not be obligated to do so."