Historic apology is huge leap
IN the last week we’ve seen some huge progress on LGBTI equality in Scotland. On Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon made a powerful statement of apology in the Scottish Parliament to the thousands of gay and bisexual men who were convicted under historical discriminatory laws against same-sex sexual activity.
The UK Government only decriminalised homosexuality in Scotland in 1981, and until 2001 there was still a discriminatory age of consent.
It is shocking to think now that, not so long ago, gay and bisexual men faced being arrested and imprisoned just for who they were and who they loved.
As the First Minister announced new legislation to give these men an automatic pardon and remove the homophobic convictions from their records, two men in the public gallery hugged and cried.
It was an emotional reminder of just how much this means to many people who never thought they’d live to see the Government say sorry for the appalling treatment they faced.
Later in the week, the SNP Government launched landmark reforms that could make Scotland a world leader on transgender and non-binary equality.
Trans people still face so much prejudice, even in Scotland, but with these changes we can make a real difference. Again, Scotland is proving itself to be a champion for equality and I couldn’t be prouder.