Live television debate about same-sex marriages

A DUNDEE church leader will go head to head with veteran British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell in a live televised debate about the future of marriage tonight.

The Rev D av i d Robertson, Free Church minister in Dundee and director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, will square off with Mr Tatchell on Christian broadcaster Revelation TV.

The debate begins at 9pm, three weeks after almost 100 MSPs voted to proceed with gay marriage legislation in Scotland.

Mr Robertson said: “There are those who think that the debate about samesex marriage is over.

“I disagree — in many ways it has only just begun.

“As the social and economic consequences of this fundamental change to the way our society is structured become increasingly clear, the debate about what marriage is and how society should be governed will continue.”

Last year the Greens’ Patrick Harvie and Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie debated with Mr Robertson on the same issue in front of a full house in Edinburgh.

Mr Tatchell said he was happy to debate same-sex marriage with anyone, anywhere at any time.

“This debate is about same-sex marriage in civil ceremonies in register offices,” he said.

“It’s not about forcing religious institutions to conduct gay weddings.”

The first hour of the broadcast will be a straight debate and the second hour will take questions from viewers.

Mr Robertson.

Peter Tatchell.