Ruth Davidson praised for homophobic abuse action

Davidson highlighted abusive messages she has been sent online to show young people that it is not acceptable to bully lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Picture: John Devlin

As an openly gay politician Ms Davidson has been targeted by twitter trolls who attack her for her sexuality.

Ms Davidson has highlighted some of the abuse directed at her by retweeting some of the foul messages that she has received over the internet.

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The Scottish Tory leader has taken the stand in order to highlight the unacceptable nature of the comments.

Tom French, Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator for the Equality Network, said; “As a high-profile public figure Ruth Davidson should be congratulated for taking a stand to highlight the homophobic abuse she continues to receive and for pointing out just how unacceptable it is.

“While we have seen significant progress towards legal equality in Scotland, our research shows that the vast majority of LGBTI people continue to face abuse and other forms of prejudice and discrimination in their day-to-day lives.

“No one should have to put up with that, particularly not in a country that prides itself on the values of equality and fairness.”

Ms Davidson has been highlighting abuse at a time when a recent report by lesbian, gay and bisexual charity Stonewall revealed that 88 per cent of secondary teachers have encountered homophobic bullying of pupils at their schools.

Thirty-nine per cent of primary teachers said such bullying was a problem at schools where they worked.

The report also found that 89 per cent of primary school staff and 83 per cent of secondary staff had not be given training on how to deal with the issue.

Explaining her decision to challenge those peddling abuse, Ms Davidson said: “Cowards use the anonymity of Twitter and Facebook to hurl around horrendous slurs.

“We can help young people by calling out this abuse when we see it. We’d never let casual racism go unchallenged, so why is casual homophobia given a free pass?”

Ms Davidson said that as a politician online abuse went “with the territory”. But when it came to abuse based on her sexuality, she felt it was important to take action.

“As an openly gay politician, I also get a significant amount of homophobic abuse and I feel a responsibility to challenge that,” Ms Davidson said.

“I don’t want young LGBT people reading my timeline and thinking that that sort of language is OK. I don’t want them believing that the only response is to just sit passively and take it.

“It is important to me that I retweet, highlight or challenge a cross section of homophobic abuse I receive so that young people feel able to do the same. We are allowed to say ‘No, this is not acceptable.”

Ms Davidson said it should not just be LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people taking on homophobic bigotry. She urged heterosexuals to take action as well.

“Around 20,000 young people will attempt suicide this year because they are bullied for their sexuality. Watching people called ‘gay’, ‘p**f’ ‘dyke’ or ‘lesbo’ online is not fun, it’s not banter and it ruins young lives.”

Ms Davidson is one of Scotland’s highest profile gay people. In the Rainbow List of the UK’s most influential gay people, she was fourth – the highest from Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We want every child and young person in Scotland to grow up free from bullying and we want them to develop mutually respectful, responsible and confident relationships with other young children, young people and adults.”

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