Equal marriage event brightens miserable day at Holyrood

Getting my daughter out of bed in the morning in the school holidays is not easy. Actually, it's not that easy in term time either, now I come to mention it. She's a night owl and she would happily sleep the morning away, emerging around lunch time in a reasonable humour. Yesterday, though, she was up and ready to go out at 10:30 because, in her own words "I get up when it's important".

So, what does a 13 year old consider important? Supporting equal marriage, that's what. Yesterday, the efforts of the brilliant Equal Marriage campaign culminated in a religious blessing for Glasgow couple Jaye and Ruth Richards-Hill outside the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Guests included random people like us, MSPs, two sisters from the Order of Perpetual Indulgence and a whole stack of journalists and photographers, around 150 people in all. The atmosphere was sunny, even if the weather wasn't - although the part where we were all out in the open air was one of the few moments it wasn't pouring with rain. 

The sisters

and their fabulous veils

The Catholic Church in Scotland, led by Cardinal O'Brien, has declared war on equal marriage, threatening its supporters with an unprecedented backlash if the Government decides to legislate, aiming to build a £100,000 war chest to "support marriage". They plan to have a special collection on 26th August to do this.This is my wedding anniversary. I'm a huge fan of marriage and am happy to support it - for all. Bob and I will be celebrating 24 years of marriage and we're keen to combat the disappointing message of intolerance coming from the church by promoting equal marriage in a positive and inspiring way. Any ideas?


I just hope that the SNP Government doesn't give in to this bullying and intimidating approach from the Church leaders. Polls suggest that almost 2/3 of Scots support equal marriage and that includes ordinary members of churches, including the Catholic Church. While the Government is expected to give civil marriages the go ahead, there is speculation that they will not allow religious bodies to conduct same sex ceremonies, which just entrenches the discrimination against LGBT people. 


So we arrived outside the Parliament at just before 11:30 yesterday. The Church may be talking war, but there were no weapons or fighting talk here, only 

and placards:

It was lovely to meet Jaye and Ruth and share in the event with them. The BBC called it a mock wedding - but it was more of a brief religious blessing of their marriage which took place in South Africa. Being a soft and soppy creature, I did fill up a bit when it was taking place. How can so much energy be put into opposing something that's all about love and commitment? You'd think doing something about poverty or actual war would be a bit more important. Live and let live and all that.

Ruth (left) and Jaye

I managed to catch up with Ruth for a quick chat about why it was so important to her to have a religious ceremony and why she and Jaye had to go to the other side of the world to get it. This is what she had to say.

listen to ‘Interview with Ruth Richards-Hill, one of the stars of today's Equal Marriage event at Holyrood.’ on Audioboo

I was particularly struck by what she said about South Africa's history and how it's now become a beacon of equality.

You can hear a longer interview with Ruth and Jaye on BBC Good Morning Scotland here at around 2:31 minutes in.

The politicians were also given their chance to speak with the crowd doing a bit of playful match making when both Patrick Harvie and Jim Eadie both said they needed to find a husband. Where they all agreed was on congratulating Tim Hopkins and the rest of the Equality Network for running such an energetic, high profile campaign. They've presented a strong case, always been positive and have been everywhere. The fact that over 20,000 responses to the Scottish Government's consultation through their website was fantastic.

It was a super event to be a part of. I hope that it's given the message that nobody need feel threatened by equal marriage for all in religious settings as well as civil. It's the solution that suits most people. While it's right that no organisation should be compelled to take part in religious marriage, similarly, they should not have the power of veto over others' lives.

And just a quick insight into how these occasions with loads of photographers work. I have about 4 different versions of the tossing of the bouquet at various angles as the photographers kept asking them to repeat it.

Out for Sport - a research project on homophobia and transphobia in sport

Scotland's Equality Network, building on the success of its Equal Marriage campaign is now setting about tackling homophobia and transphobia in sport.

It pains me to think that there are some LGBT people who feel that they either can't participate in sport, or don't reveal their sexuality because they are worried that everyone, from their team-mates to fans or sponsors would give them grief for being who they are.

Stephen Glenn has written about homophobia in sport, including this post about comments made by an agent after the last World Cup. Football has done itself no favours by giving the 2018 World Cup to Qatar, not a place that's friendly to LGBT people. FIFA head Sepp Blatter then carried on digging by suggesting that gay people could "refrain from sexual activity" while they were there.

I have no idea how my favourite sport of Formula One would cope with an out gay driver. I'd like to think that no sponsors would throw hissy fits and that the teams would all be fine about it and I'll assume that would be the case until I have evidence to the contrary. And if that contrary happens, whoever is responsible will face my wrath. And that's not pretty.

There's no doubt that there are barriers for LGBT people who want to take part in competitive sport at all levels so it's good that the Equality Network is aiming to break these down. The first stage of their campaign is to gather information by way of a massive research project, by way of a survey which can be completed here at Out for Sport.  Now, they managed to channel over 20,000 responses to the Equal Marriage consultation. How good would it be for them to have as many responses to this.

It will literally take you 10 minutes to complete. They're calling it the "most expansive research project to date on homophobia and transphobia in Scottish sport." Go on - do it now before you forget.

Love Equally March on Valentine's Day in Edinburgh

So, how are you going to spend Valentine's Day?

How about spending some of it in the company of like minded people marching from Edinburgh University to the Scottish Parliament in support of Equal Marriage?

Starting at Bristo Square at 2:30, the march, organised by the Scottish Youth Parliament, NUS and the Equality Network, will head for Holyrood.

I don't know if I'm going to be able to go. The schools are out, Bob's on holiday and we had a mind to go away for the week, but we'll be there if we change our minds.

There's more information about the event on its Facebook page. Please feel free to share with everybody you know.

The only disappointing thing is that it won't have Colin Firth and Hugh Grant - but surely someone can write a suitable spoof of a Curtis film to help publicise the event on You Tube or something....

Have your say on Equal Marriage in person or online

I may have nagged you once or twice about taking part in the Scottish Government's consultation on Equal Marriage which runs until 9th December.

The opponents of equal marriage are trying to get 100,000 negative responses to the consultation. We know that  almost 2/3 of the Scottish population, a good couple of million of the voting public, support equalising the marriage laws so we owe it to all of them to encourage as many positive responses as possible - with no limits.

The postcard above is part of the ever awesome Liberal Youth Scotland's very well received campaign on equal marriage which is running this Autumn. They have also set up a link on their website so that you can write to your MSPs urging them to support equal marriage.  Their draft letter is written with sensitivity and heart, and you can add your own views to it.

Those nice people at the Equality Network have made responding to the consultation really easy - it took me about 10 minutes this morning while I was trying to get 3 kids out for school and faffing with dinner money and tights and the like. Click here for the link.  They also then send you an e-mail with all that you've written so that you can post it on your blog. I will - but it gives me an excuse to nag you again, so I'll keep you in suspense for the time being.

Equality Network are also running a series of events with people from the Scottish Government over the next couple of weeks. I'll be at the one on Saturday at the Scottish Government HQ at Victoria Quay between 2 and 4 pm.

There are other events (and this text has been blatantly filched from their Facebook page. I hope they don't mind):

Glasgow Event
(6.30pm, Wed 9th Nov)
St Mungo Museum, 2 Castle Street
Glasgow, G4 0RH.
Register: http://equalmarriageglasgow-eorg.eventbrite.co.uk/

Inverness Event
(6.30pm, Tues 15th Nov)
Spectrum Centre, 1 Margaret Street
Inverness, IV1 1LS.
Register: http://equalmarriageinverness-eorg.eventbrite.co.uk/

Dundee Event
(6.30pm, Wed 16th Nov)
Discovery Point, Discovery Quay
Dundee, DD1 4XA.
Register: http://equalmarriagedundee-eorg.eventbrite.co.uk/

Dumfries Event
(6.30pm, Thurs 24th Nov)
LGBT Centre, 88b High Street
Dumfries, DG1 2BJ.
Register: http://equalmarriagedumfries-eorg.eventbrite.co.uk/
They say that "refreshments" will be available so there's even more incentive to go.

If you can get to any of these events, please do - and don't forget to respond to the consultation. It's really important that we make our views heard.