Same rules

Scotland is a diverse country. We all need to live here together, recognising the fact that some of us will have deep disagreements about a range of matters, whether our religious beliefs, our view on nuclear weapons, or the correct rules for marriage, for example.

We should be free to express and debate our opinions robustly, but with a measure of respect for those with whom we disagree, and certainly without refusing them the commercial or public services that we provide in our employment, simply on grounds of our disagreement.

It is already the law that those who sell services to the public must not discriminate on grounds including religion and sexual orientation.

For example a florist who is a Protestant, and who sells flowers to couples having a local Church of Scotland wedding, cannot lawfully refuse to sell flowers to couples having a local Roman Catholic wedding just because they are Roman Catholic, however strongly the florist may personally disagree with Catholic doctrine. That would be unlawful religious discrimination.

Similarly, a florist who sells wedding flowers cannot lawfully refuse to sell flowers to a couple having a civil partnership, just because they are a same-sex couple.

The introduction of same-sex marriage will not change that rule.

Quite apart from issues of discrimination law, refusing to serve customers for either reason would not contribute towards a society that is respectful of difference; nor is it likely to be good for business!

Tim Hopkins

Equality Network

Bernard Street

Edinburgh