Scottish Green activists push for legal recognition of polyamory
A motion at the party’s conference says ‘poly relationships’ are growing in number in Scotland
Scottish Green activists are pushing for legal recognition of polyamorous and “multiple partner” relationships.
A motion set to be debated at the party’s conference this weekend says “poly relationships” are growing in number across Scotland but remain without recognition.
This leaves space for “misunderstandings and ignorance when interacting with others, including public services” as well as “legal barriers”, it says.
The motion adds: “This can prevent members of poly relationships from visiting their partners in cases of serious illness or being recognised as their partners in official documentation.
“It can lead to additional and unnecessary complexity when it comes to financial affairs, leaving many unprotected where traditional relationships would not be.”
The Scottish Conservatives accused the party of “bizarre political navel-gazing” and insisted the Greens are “completely detached from reality”.
The Greens will gather for their autumn conference at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on Saturday and Sunday.
The motion on poly relationships, which has been backed by the Greens of Colour Committee, calls for a number of legal changes.
It says mortgage agreements “should take into account the potential for cohabiting relationships to consist of more than two people”.
It adds that where state support such as benefits or pensions “is measured or dependent on existing relationships this support should take into account relationships that may involve multiple partners”.
It continues: “All relevant laws relating to the legal rights of recognised partnerships, such as those around healthcare access and inheritance, must take into account the potential for more than one spouse or partner to be involved and have legal rights fitting their relationship.
“Where immigration rules or laws of asylum involve existing relationships with those already resident or citizens in Scotland those rules should take into account relationships that may involve multiple partners.
“Where support for immigrant or refugee people involve support for legal partnerships or protection from existing abusive partnerships this should recognise where this may involve multiple partners.”
The motion calls for a “commitment to counter discrimination and provide protection to the above in the form of equality legislation to provide protection in the areas of employment law, property law, healthcare legislation, and harassment”.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “While Scots are being hammered by soaring bills, crumbling public services and an NHS in crisis, the Scottish Greens are obsessing over giving polyamorous relationships a legal makeover.
“This is the sort of bizarre political navel-gazing that makes people despair of Holyrood. Ordinary Scots want politicians to fix the problems blighting their lives, not indulge every niche ideological obsession.
“The Greens are completely detached from reality and have their priorities utterly wrong.”
Reform MSP Max Bannerman said: "This motion is the latest desperate attempt by the left to outdo itself in the race to be simultaneously the most extreme and the most detached party in politics.”
He said the Greens “need to get a grip”.
Ross Greer, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens alongside Gillian Mackay, said the party is a “democracy“ and members can bring forward motions to debate.
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