Minister to help launch gay pride march in a ‘gesture of solidarity’

A CHURCH of Scotland minister will address a gay pride march in a gesture of ‘solidarity’ with people who feel they have been ‘misunderstood’ by the Kirk.

The Rev Peter Nimmo has accepted an invitation to speak at the opening of Proud Ness in Inverness on Saturday, which is expected to see 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people flock to the city.

Mr Nimmo, minister of Old High St Stephen’s in Inverness, said: ‘I was asked by the event organisers to say a few words at the start of the parade in order to show support for the LGBT community in Inverness and the Highlands.

‘I feel honoured to be invited and pleased to hear that a number of clergy from the Church of Scotland and other denominations will be attending.’

He added: ‘I look forward to attending Proud Ness in a ges- ture of solidarity and support for a group in society who have, too often, been discriminated against and misunderstood.’

The event has, however, met opposition from some church leaders.

Donald Morrison, a home mission worker with the Free Church, has urged the city council to refuse permission for the march on ‘biblical, religious and moral grounds’.

Around 600 people have signed a petition calling for it to be cancelled. Mr Morrison described it as an ‘unsavoury event’ and argued that marchers in other cities ‘frolicked unashamedly on rainbowcoloured floats, making obscene sexual gestures’.

Mr Morrison claims to have received an ‘offensive package’ through the post, while gay rights campaigners countered his petition with several of their own.

‘Obscene sexual gestures’