One of the campaigns I’ve been supporting over the last year has been the campaign for equal marriage. It’s one where emotions run high and too often politicians, especially in an upcoming election year, run shy. I’m therefore proud that Glasgow City Council unanimously agreed at our full meeting to support my resolution stating that our Council is backing the equal marriage campaign. 

The consultation period is over and the SNP Government will now consider their response. However there is speculation that they may seek to do a deal that would accept the campaign to prevent religious groups from carrying out equal marriage ceremonies on any religious premises even though this would prevent the Quakers, Liberal Judaism, Metropolitan Community Church and other s who wish to perform these celebrations in their own places of worship.

Scottish Liberal Democrats support the SNP Government’s effort to bring fairness and equality to marriage and we urge the First Minister to stand firm against this campaign. The leader of our Scottish Party, Willie Rennie, has said “What I find difficult to understand is why those opposed to equal marriage want to impose their views on everyone else when we are not seeking to impose our views on them. If two people want to get married and a church wants to conduct the service why should anyone stop them?”

Scottish Liberal Democrats want a tolerant and fair society and equal marriage is a key part of that.

It also seems timely therefore that US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, reminds us all in her speech celebrating International Human Rights Day “that leadership by definition means being out in front of your people when it is called for, it means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same.” 

Like her I hope that our government will be on the right side of history. 

Given the First Minister’s love of quoting Lib Dem blogs and tweets I’m happy for him to use this 🙂