‘Rainbow’ backing for gay marriage

A “RAINBOW coalition” of organisations is backing proposed changes to the law that would legalise same-sex marriage.

Representatives from the Equality Network, the Scottish Youth Parliament, Amnesty International, Unison, the Humanist Society of Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland and NUS Scotland jointly announced their support for “equal marriage”.

The Scottish Government launched a consultation in September asking if marriage in Scotland should be allowed for gay people through a civil or religious ceremony. Same-sex couples can currently enter a civil partnership, which carries full legal rights, but the ceremony cannot be conducted in a church or other religious premises.

Equal marriage campaigners have handed over 18,000 responses to the government’s consultation. Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said: “Today we have seen a rainbow coalition of organisations from across Scottish society voice their strong support for equal marriage.”

The Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland are opposed to the government proposals, although they would ensure religious organisations did not have to register same-sex marriages against their will.