United Kingdom: Scotland Introduces Marriage Bill

Gay Star News reports:

The Scottish government launched the ‘Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill’, which will introduce marriage equality, yesterday (12 December) alongside a 14-week consultation on its implementation.
The draft legislation will allow same-sex marriage in Scotland and give all religious and belief bodies (for example Humanist) the right to conduct same-sex marriages, if they wish to do so.
The bill will also remove the requirement on a married or civil partnered transgender person to divorce before obtaining full Gender Recognition.
In addition the bill will introduce religious and belief ceremonies for civil partnerships.
Finally, the bill will allow civil marriages to take place anywhere a couple and their registrar choose.
The Scottish government will now be consulting on the implementation of the draft bill, including the details of the legislation and proposals relating to religious bodies and celebrants, freedom of speech, education and employment.
Following the close of the public consultation on 20 March, the Scottish government will make any changes to the bill that are considered necessary, then introduce the bill for a vote into the Scottish parliament.
It generally takes at least 6 months for a bill to go through parliament, so if the bill is introduced by May or June, it might be passed by around the end of 2013.
Depending on unforeseen changes to the timetable the first same-sex marriages in Scotland should take place in 2014.
Tom French, policy coordinator for the Equality Network charity, welcomed the bill and said: ‘Today Scotland has taken a huge step forward towards full equality for LGBT people.
‘Equally religious bodies should have the freedom to choose for themselves whether to conduct same-sex marriages, currently all religious bodies are wrongly banned from doing so regardless of their beliefs.
‘These proposals are fair and progressive, and as a result we expect the final legislation to get the backing of a clear majority in parliament’.
All the major Scottish political parties welcomed the bill.
Alex Neil Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), and Scottish Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said; ‘We are introducing same sex marriage in Scotland because it is the right thing to do.
‘We are striving to create a Scotland that is free, tolerant and fair and I am pleased to say there is support across the chamber for this significant step.
‘I am absolutely clear that this should not impact on religious freedom and no religious body will be compelled to solemnise same-sex marriages.’
Johann Lamont MSP, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, said: ‘Equality for LGBT people in the UK has always been advanced by the Labour Party, from equalising the age of consent, introducing anti-discriminatory policies, introducing civil partnerships and promoting equality across Europe and beyond. We look forward to scrutinising the bill’.
Ruth Davidson MSP, leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, said; ‘I support the principal of equal marriage’, adding she will work to ensure that religious protections are in place’.
Willie Rennie MSP, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: ‘This bill represents a proud step forwards for equality in Scotland.
‘Equal marriage is the right and natural step towards the modern, tolerant and progressive Scotland we all want to see’.
Patrick Harvie MSP, out bisexual leader of the Scottish Green Party, said: ‘I’m delighted that Scotland will be pressing ahead with legislation which recognises the equal status of mixed-sex and same-sex relationships, and gives them all the same right to marriage.
‘I believe they should all have the same right to civil partnership too, and I’ll look forward to debating that in parliament.
‘Equality should mean equality for everyone, on their own terms.’
Over 14 Scottish religious leaders, from the Quakers, Episcopal, Unitarian, ministers of the Church of Scotland and Liberal Jeduasim have welcomed the bill and said they look forward to solemnise same-sex marriage.
Despite the bill ensuring opt out for religious bodies who do not wish to conduct same-sex marriages and guaranteeing religious freedom, some Scottish religious leaders said religious bodies are not ‘protected’ enough against the bill and called for ‘more safeguards’.
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said that ‘leading legal opinion’ has warned that the government’s proposals will have an ‘adverse’ impact on ‘religious freedom and a wide range of civil liberties.’ and may ‘discriminate unjustly’ against religious bodies.
Rev Alan Hamilton, convener of the Church of Scotland’s legal questions committee, said: ‘We have also expressed concerns about the speed with which the government is proceeding with this and what we fear will be inadequate safeguards for religious bodies and ministers and people of faith who view this as being contrary to their beliefs’.

Scotland: Government To Introduce Marriage Bill

Pink New UK reports:

Equal marriage advocates have welcomed the Scottish government’s much-awaited announcement this morning that it will be bringing forward legislation to allow gay couples to marry and remove current barriers for trans people.
The government will bring forward legislation that would allow gay couples to marry in civil ceremonies and religious ceremonies where faiths choose to permit it. The majority of MSPs have pledged to support such a change in the law.
The law would make Scotland the first part of the UK to allow gay couples to wed and would remove the need for trans people to divorce and form civil partnerships if they transition while married.
Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “Today is a proud day for Scotland. The Scottish Government have shown their determination to make Scotland a more progressive country. With cross-party support for equality in the Scottish Parliament we would expect that this change can be passed next year.
“Same-sex marriage is about equality and freedom. The freedom for couples, and religious and humanist groups that want to, to celebrate same-sex marriages. But equally, upholding the freedom of other religious groups to say no to same-sex marriages. That’s the right way for Scotland to deal with the different opinions on this.
“We welcome that religious and humanist groups that want to conduct same-sex marriages will be able to do so. We have no problem with a small amendment to the Equality Act to ensure that religious celebrants who disagree don’t have to conduct same-sex marriages. We fully expect the UK Government to cooperate to ensure that. We have always said that religious bodies and celebrants who do not want to conduct same-sex marriage should be free to opt out.
“In the Scottish Government’s consultation, two thirds of the proper consultation responses from Scotland were in favour of same-sex marriage. Consultation is not a numbers game though, and it’s not about petitions and postcards. The Scottish Government were right to take the time to carefully consider the all the points raised by consultation responses.”
In June the Equality Network announced that a majority of MSPs had signed its Equal Marriage Pledge, committing themselves to voting in favour of same-sex marriage. 74 MSPs have now said they will vote in favour, including the leaders of all the opposition parties. Nine MSPs remain opposed.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “This is a small but important step for equality in Scotland. I’m sure there will be bumps on the road but Nicola Sturgeon can count on my support to deliver equality in marriage.
“These reasonable changes are about removing barriers and extending freedoms. It’s never been about compelling churches to conduct marriage ceremonies against their will. That’s why I will work with Nicola Sturgeon to secure changes to the UK Equality Act to cement religious freedoms if such amendments are needed.”
Opinion polls show consistent majority support for the move among the people of Scotland with the main opposition coming from religious leaders.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, referred to the proposals as a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right” and launched a last-minute bid last week for a referendum, which was rejected by the Scottish cabinet.
Ross Wright, a Humanist Marriage celebrant said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government has chosen the side of love and equality in this step towards a fairer Scotland. We look forward to the quick passage of this legislation so that we can conduct the first Humanist same-sex marriage ceremonies in Scotland.”
Rabbi Mark Solomon of the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community, said: “This is a day of pride and joy for Scotland and all her LGBT citizens. It is a major step towards a fully equal and just society where the commitment of all loving couples is honoured. At a Jewish wedding we shout Mazal-tov (congratulations and good luck) when the bridegroom breaks the glass to end the ceremony. A huge Mazal-tov to the Scottish government and us all!”
Rev Jane Clarke, of the Metropolitan Community Church said: “I am delighted by this decision. At last I will be not be forced by the law to discriminate against the same-sex couples within my congregation. I am very proud to live in Scotland and very proud of this decision today.”
Grant Costello MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament which has campaigned for equal marriage rights said it was the “civil rights battle of our generation”.
He said: “Today the Scottish Government made it clear it stands with our generation on the side of equality. Scotland’s young people are overwhelmingly in favour of Equal Marriage. They want a Scotland where two people who love each other should be able to marry. We thank the Scottish Government for listening to Scotland’s young people and commit to working with them to make Equal Marriage a reality.”

Scotland: Leaked Email Suggests No Marriage Until UK “Protects” Churches

Joe.My.God. reports:

According to a leaked email seen by the BBC, the Scottish government may not present its marriage equality bill until the British government amends a law to “protect” churches from being “forced” to hold same-sex ceremonies.

The correspondence seen by the BBC said ministers were expected to introduce the policy, but not before the UK Equalities Act, which guarantees equal treatment from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, was amended first. It said: “We may announce that we will proceed with the introduction of same-sex marriage, by means of both civil and religious ceremonies, and with the introduction of religious ceremonies to register civil partnerships. “However we may also say, and give considerable prominence to saying, that the government recognises the need to provide appropriate protections for some in Scottish society who are against same sex marriage. I expect we will say that the Equality Act 2010 needs to be amended to provide full protection for individual celebrants who are opposed to same-sex ceremonies, even if their religious body has decided to opt in to carrying out such ceremonies.”

The Scottish government was due to present its intentions on July 10th and on Tuesday they announced that there would be no public vote on gay marriage.

John Barrowman Has A Problem With Cardinal Keith O’Brien

Pink News UK reports:

John Barrowman has said he ‘has a problem’ with the rhetoric of the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien.
The Glasgow-born Torchwood star, who is in a civil partnership, told The Sun marriage was about “being respected and loved by other human beings”.
Though he formerly “didn’t like the word marriage for gays because of the organisation it represented”, he said, “vile rhetoric” had convinced him it was time to “take a stand”. Marriage, he said, was something he would now consider.
He said he would not attack faith in Scotland because “good, loving church people” in the country who “don’t care if you’re gay or not”.
He said it was the UK’s most senior Catholic, who has been fighting against gay marriage equality in Scotland since the government announced it would consult publicly on the issue, that he “has a problem with”.
Cardinal O’Brien has called the “madness” of marriage for gay couples a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”, and said if it were allowed, “further aberrations” would ensue and “society would be degenerating even further than it has already degenerated into immorality”.
Barrowman said today: “I’m giving my opinion but the people who believe in what O’Brien says will stand up and declare I’m wrong, bad and shouldn’t be allowed to.
“I’m not saying that all religious people are like O’Brien because I know great people who are Christian and know gay men and women are here for a purpose and are good people.
“But that specific person, and others, should not be allowed to speak as they do. And if they do, then I and others should be allowed to stand up and tell them they are ignorant bigots.”
Barrowman has spoken out against religious figures before.
When the Bishop of Paisley Philip Tartaglia said equal marriage would cost the SNP government votes, Barrowman said: “That’s not being Christian at all. In fact, I think it’s evil. Being gay is not, as they claim, against the laws of nature. I was born this way. And there’s a reason I was born this way. I didn’t decide to wake up gay one morning.
“If two people love each other enough and want to call what they have a ‘marriage’, regardless of their sex, shouldn’t we let them do that? Otherwise, we’re in the Dark Ages again.”

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

United Kingdom: “Marriage Equality” Could Make Scotland A Progressive Beacon, Ahead Of England, Wales & Northern Ireland 

Pink News UK reports: 

With equal marriage laws absent from the Westminster government’s legislative agenda for the coming year, Scottish campaigners say Holyrood is in a position to become a ‘beacon’ of equality by introducing the laws first.

A public consultation took place in Scotland towards the end of 2011, with the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) government having said it was minded towards introducing equality. The results of the consultation have been pushed back until June.

In February, the leaders of all of Scotland’s opposition parties: Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats and Greens signed a pledge to vote for gay couples being allowed to marry when the issue comes before the Scottish Parliament.

Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party is openly lesbian while Patrick Harvie, the leader of the Scottish Green Party is openly bisexual.

In line with the government’s previous statements but disappointing to marriage advocates hoping for legislation to come sooner, the Queen’s Speech at Westminster today did not include marriage equality on the agenda for England and Wales this year.

The government has pledged to introduce the legislation before 2015 and a public consultation is ongoing.

Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said the confirmation of the legislative agenda put Scotland in an ideal position to move ahead of the rest of the UK on equality between gay and straight couples in marriage.

He said: “The Scottish Government now has the perfect opportunity to prove that Scotland is capable of being the progressive beacon that our political leaders want it to be by leading the way on equal marriage rights.

“We know that a majority of the public back full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Scotland has the powers it needs to make this happen. It’s now time for the Scottish Government to bring forward legislation and make equal marriage a reality.”

The Equality Network added that delaying legislation until after Scotland holds a referendum on independence from the rest of the UK, as had been suggested in some quarters, would be a “mistake”.

It said: “Delaying a decision on same-sex marriage would put the issue centre-stage during the referendum campaign, and would undermine any good will that the Scottish Government secured when they brought forward equal marriage proposals.”

Scotland: Gay Marriage “By The End Of 2013”

Pink News UK reports:

Scotland is likely to have full marriage equality by the end of 2013 at the latest, Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network told PinkNews.co.uk at a reception in the Scottish Parliament yesterday evening.
400 people attended the reception after all opposition party leaders signed up to the Equal Marriage Pledge.
The Scottish government, led by the Scottish National Party, concluded public consultation on equal marriage on 9 December. It was the government’s largest ever public consultation, with over 50,000 responses.
It will now analyse the feedback and publish their response in spring along with a draft bill, which will be open for expert consultation and voting by mid-2013, expected to pass as law by the end of 2013.
“This is the last piece of devolved legislation in Scotland that needs to be changed to introduce full equality for LGBT people in the law,” declared Hopkins.
This is in contrast to England and Wales, where the consultation process will only start in March this year.
Westminster “might move ahead at the same time scale as in Scotland, but if it doesn’t, the fact that it goes here will help campaigners in the rest of the UK” speculated Hopkins.
Speaking with PinkNews.co.uk, out bisexual MSP Patrick Harvie, leader of the Green party stated: “This is a real opportunity to shift the argument not just here but in the rest of the UK. If we are to move on this quickly Westminster will be prompted to move on this issue faster”.
Opinion polls suggest a majority of Scots support equal marriage, including the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2010 which indicated 61% support versus 19% opposition. This included a majority of respondents following all the major faiths and political parties in Scotland.
Over 400 people attend the reception in support of same-sex marriage. The event, the biggest since the parliament was established, was hosted by leading MSPs from all five parties and was attended by guests including leading politicians, faith leaders, same-sex couples, trade unionists, and youth and student representatives.
Speaking with PinkNews.co.uk, Rae Cahill MSYP, Deputy Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament said: “Our consultation showed that young people (16-25 years old) in Scotland overwhelmingly support marriage equality, the figures were 74%. Young people insist that full equality is right for Scotland, it is the future for this country and ourselves.”
Out gay MSP Joe FitzPatrick, member of the SNP, told PinkNews.co.uk: “This is not just about marriage, its about equality, its about the Scotland we want people to live in. I want to live in Scotland that treats everyone in respect. We can be a beacon of progressive policy.”
Tim Hopkins continued: “This is a broad campaign supported across the country. There are many religious groups, the Unitarian Church, the Quakers, the Humanists (who conduct the second largest amount of marriages after the Church of Scotland) and many others in Scotland who unanimously support same-sex marriage.
“Many religious groups who want to conduct same-sex marriage should be to have the freedom to do so. Equality means equality, marriage should also be a religious ceremony.”
Joan Cook of the Unitarian Church said: “The Unitarians do not discriminate in any way LGBT people, many of our Ministers and office bearers are openly members of the LGBT community, including our current President, the Rev. Dr. Ann Peart.
“We have been conducting same-sex blessings, in our churches and elsewhere, for decades now, and look forward to solemnising same-sex marriages.”
Rabbi Mark L. Solomon, from Liberal Judaism said: “It isn’t just that if we as LGBT people are equal in the full real sense, our life will get better. We know that, we feel it deeply.
“But now we see marriage as a free and loving mutual commitment between equals, marriage has got better and we want to make it better still.
“It was feminism that set me free to come out as a gay man. I always believed that gay rights are the logical ethical offspring of women’s rights. And now the possibility that we can encourage two women or two men to be married, would mean not only that we are truly equal but the marriage itself is a relationship of true and full equality.”
The question of marriage equality will also affect transgender people.
Pietà and Susie Schofield, married as a husband and wife for over 25 years with three children, have been hitting a brick wall due to marriage inequality.
Pietà, a transgender woman, and Susie were told that if they wished to have their relationship recognised by law as between two women, they would to divorce and go through a civil partnership.
With the introduction of marriage equality they will simply be able to continue their marriage as a same-sex couple.
“Right now, a transgender man can marry a woman legally, so marriage equality will not merely solve our problem but also end inequality for all transgender people,” they explained.
Tim Hopkins said: “We can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen. There are strong bodies campaigning against marriage equality, including large religious bodies who have the ears of the media and a lot more funds than we have. It is really important for everybody to continue campaigning on this issue and state that there is majority support for equality across Scotland.”

Scotland: Gay Teen On Trial In Killing Of Schoolmate 

BBC News reports:

The Jack Frew murder trial has been told that the schoolboy’s body had a number of stab wounds to his chest and back and his windpipe had been cut.
Det Sgt James Munro was giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow, where Craig Roy is charged with murdering the teenager in East Kilbride in May 2010.
Mr Roy, 19, admits stabbing 16-year-old Jack Frew but denies murdering him.
The jury also heard a taped police interview with the accused in which he said he just wanted to scare Mr Frew.
At the time of the killing, both Jack Frew and Craig Roy were pupils at the same school in East Kilbride.
Det Sgt Munro told the court Mr Frew’s clothing was “heavily bloodstained” and his T-shirt had holes in it.
The court heard that Mr Munro served as a police officer for 34 years before retiring.
He said that he attended the crime scene - in a wooded area off a cycle path - at about 21:00 on 6 May 2010.
The former detective said Mr Frew was lying on his side under a small bush.
Mr Munro was asked by advocate depute Jennifer Bain, prosecuting, what he noticed about Mr Frew’s body and he replied: “I noticed that his throat had been cut.

Det Sgt James Munro described the wounds to Jack Frew’s body
“When I moved the body later on I saw the windpipe had been cut.”
The jury was told that Mr Frew had been wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a nylon jacket and one shoe was missing. They were shown photographs of his body.
The detective said he pulled up the T-shirt to see if there were any injuries to Mr Frew’s body.
He told Ms Bain: “I saw several at the front and back.”
The court also heard that Mr Frew had injuries to his hands.
One of his hands was clenched, but had nothing in it other than moss and greenery from the surrounding area.
Fingertip search
Mr Munro said he searched Mr Frew’s pockets, but could find no trace of his mobile phone.
A team of police officers was brought in for a fingertip search of the area and the phone was found 3ft to 4ft in front of his body hidden in undergrowth.
The missing shoe was discovered 3ft to 4ft behind his body next to a tree stump.
Earlier the jury was told that Mr Frew had sent a sexually explicit text to Mr Roy just hours before he was stabbed to death.

“I can’t remember how it went. It just happened very, very fast”
Craig Roy
The jury was read all 82 texts messages sent between Mr Roy and Mr Frew from December 2009 to 6 May 2010.
Many of them related to schoolwork and four were in schoolboy French.
Later the accused sat in the dock with his head bowed as a taped interview given by him to police three days after Jack Frew’s death was played to the court.
In it he told Det Con James Waddell that Mr Frew was a “sex pest”.
Mr Roy was asked: “What made Jack Frew a sex pest?” and he replied: “He would never stop just pressurising trying to get what he wanted from anyone at anytime.”
The 19-year-old told police that he had given oral sex to Mr Frew in Duncanrigg High School, where both boys were pupils, some months before.
Mr Roy claimed Mr Frew had threatened to tell his partner Christopher Hannah what had happened.
He said he loved Mr Hannah and felt guilty about what had happened.
Small knife
The accused described Mr Frew as “over-confident and seemed kind of false”.
He said that the schoolboy had told him to meet him at the parish church in East Kilbride on the evening of 6 May 2010.
Det Con Waddell asked Mr Roy: “Did Jack ever say he was going to tell Chris about what happened?” and he replied: “Yes he said he would tell.”
Mr Roy told police he took a small knife from home because he wanted to scare Mr Frew off.
He said: “I can’t remember how it went. It just happened very, very fast.
“It was only afterwards I realised what I had done.”
He was asked if he could you remember what he saw when you looked at Mr Frew and he said: “I remember his neck, it was cut open.”
The 19-year-old was then asked what else he remembered seeing and said: “Just blood. On me, on him.”
He claimed he tried to talk to Mr Frew and check his pulse, but by that time he was dead.
The trial before Lord Doherty continues.

Not So United Kingdom: UK Secession For Scotland?

The Business Insider reports:

Why doesn’t anyone want to be a part of the UK anymore? The Republic of Ireland left in 1922, now Scotland wants to follow suit.
Scotland, which retained its own legal system after the 1707 induction into the United Kingdom, controls its own policies on health, education and prisons, as opposed to deferring to Downing Street. Scotland even has its own flag.
But the Scots want more…
How much support is there for independence in Scotland?
An Ipsos MORI poll last month found that, among Scottish voters certain to vote in a referendum, 38 percent would vote for full independence while 58 percent were opposed.
A YouGov poll conducted in April 2011 put support lower than that — 28 percent — with 57 percent opposed to breaking up the UK.
So what’s all the hullabaloo about?
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s current First Minister, wants the nation to have its own armed forces and foreign policy. Salmond also told Reuters last year that Scotland would be entitled to the majority of the North Sea oil revenues if the split took place.
Salmond’s Scottish National Party (SNP), which came to power in May 2011, promised to hold a referendum on secession in the second half of a parliamentary term, lasting until 2016. And while UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron is against the split, he has agreed to a referendum — with strings attached — leading Salmond’s deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, to say, “Here we go again… another Tory-led government interfering in Scotland.”
The UK government’s position
The government has firmly stated is that it takes two to tango: secession from the UK will not affect Scotland alone, so the matter cannot be decided by Scotland alone.
The three biggest political parties — the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labor — as well as Cameron, are opposed to a break-up of the United Kingdom. Cameron says the split, as well as “uncertainty” over the vote, was damaging the UK’s economy by deterring investment, according to the BBC.
While Cameron may believe that the earlier a referendum is held, the better the chances are of Scotland staying in the Union, he can’t push too hard — he could actually increase support for a split by being construed as a “meddler”.
It had been reported that Cameron was in favor of holding a referendum in the next 18 months — earlier than the SNP would like, but government sources later denied the existence of such a “sunset clause”, especially if powers were granted to the Scottish government to make a binding resolution.
The government also favors a yes/no vote — do you want to stay in the UK or not — effectively ruling out a third option: “devolution max”,  which would offer more powers for Scotland, just short of complete independence.
The SNP’s position
While the party did not suggest a date for a referendum, the preferred date is thought to be in 2014, according to the BBC — much later than the date Cameron was allegedly pushing for.
Lord Forsyth, a former Scottish secretary, told the BBC this was because the SNP knew the majority of people were currently opposed to full independence and “they are afraid they will lose it [the vote].”
“They want to spend the next two or three years creating resentment on both sides of the border,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One.
The party may be hoping to exploit two events in 2014, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, where the Scots defeated an English army, to drum up support for a break.
The SNP also favors a simple yes/no vote, but they accept there is “a significant body of opinion” in Scotland which wants more economic and financial powers, but not complete political independence.
Scotland’s next move
Scotland can go ahead with a non-binding referendum on its own, without asking for approval from the UK government in Westminster, although this could be subject to legal challenge.
Since separating from the Union is a constitutional matter, any decision reached at such a referendum need only be considered in an advisory capacity by Westminster. Only the UK government can make the final decision on such matters, so a referendum would be more like a plebiscite to gauge public opinion, and not something that could necessarily alter policy.
However, the Scottish government’s website states that even in the case of a non-binding referendum, “The moral and political force of a vote for independence would be enormous, and impossible for a future government to ignore. A negative vote would similarly have a political consequence.”
The UK’s next move
UK ministers have identified three broad options, reports the BBC: To legislate to allow the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum; to call the referendum themselves; or do nothing, “leaving the issue to be determined following a possible legal challenge to the Scottish Government’s plans by an aggrieved citizen.”
Options two and three are unattractive for obvious reasons. Calling for a referendum that most Scots believe should be their right to do would be playing into the hands of separationists; doing nothing could be called a dereliction of duty, which would make the UK government look bad.
This leaves option one, which is not without it’s own caveat. Amending the 1998 Scotland Act to allow the Scottish government to hold a referendum would need permission from the Scottish government. This would likely not be forthcoming, given the SNP believes they don’t need the permission.
What next?
It’s difficult to predict how this will end. The current financial crisis could lead Scots to consider secession as in their best interests, as could a wrong move by Cameron. Alternatively, as the poll numbers show, the SNP could lose popularity, possibly leading Unionists to gain ground. At this point, it doesn’t look like the issue will be resolved anytime soon.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

SCOTLAND: Muslims & Catholics Make Up To Fight Gays

This was reported by the Christians Broadcast Network. 

You know, I think we (gays) have accomplish quite an amazing thing, don’t you think? As pointed out by someone on Youtube, “The Gay Community should receive a Nobel Peace Prize for managing to unite people who hate each other so much that they’ve killed each other with little hesitation for centuries”.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch (What’s Next For Prop 8?)

Scotland: Call For Views Ib Gay Marriage Before Consultation Closes 

Pink News UK reports:

The Equality Network is calling for equal marriage supporters to have their say in the government’s public consultation on extending marriage rights to gay couples before Friday’s deadline.

Respondents do not have to be Scottish to express their opinion on the issue; the group can forward views from other countries in the UK and the world, which will then be looked at separately by the government.
They say the decision taken by the government will have a important effect on how Scotland is perceived abroad, and overseas views should be taken into account.
So far, the group has received around 15,000 messages through their website, but they are keen to boost the volume and diversity of responses in support of equal marriage rights.
Last week, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland attended the launch of a new anti-gay marriage coalition outside the Scottish Parliament, delivering 20,000 postcards signed by people who oppose expanding the definition of marriage to include gay couples.
Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said: “With just days before the Scottish Government’s equal marriage consultation closes, it is vital that as many people as possible make their voice heard and respond.
“Never before have so many people spoken out on an LGBT equality issue. But we also know that the opponents of equality are running a well-funded campaign and will do everything they can to stop the Scottish Government lifting the ban on same-sex marriage.
“They have already spent tens of thousands on adverts and publicity materials, and claim to have collected 20,000 responses opposing equal marriage.
“We know that the silent majority support equality, so now is the time to speak up.”
Opinion polls suggest a majority of Scots support equal marriage. The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2010 indicated 61% support versus 19% opposition. This included a majority of respondents following all the major faiths and political parties in Scotland.
Responses can be filed online through the Equality Network’s Equal Marriage campaign website.

Song Of The Day: Texas - When We Are Together 

Mr Walker, 28, who suffered what police described as “horrible injuries”, was interviewed over an alleged incident involving a 12-year-old boy in August and a report was sent to prosecutors.
The matter was still under consideration when he died, but police said there was no suggestion at this stage that the incident was “in any way” connected to his murder.
Mr Walker’s body was discovered early on Saturday morning on an industrial estate in Cumnock, Ayrshire.
Strathclyde Police also said there was nothing to suggest he had been the victim of a homophobic crime, although they do not believe it was a random attack, and say no clear motive has been established.
Detectives would not discuss his injuries, but he is known to have been set on fire in the attack near his home in Cumnock.
Mr Walker was last sent at around 2.30am after attending a house party with friends, where he was said to have been drinking vodka, singing and dancing.
Witnesses said he was drunk when he left early on Saturday morning without his glasses, which he needed to see properly.
Donna Doonan, 27, who met him at the party, said he was an “amazing guy”, adding: “At one point he told me I was pretty enough to turn any gay man straight. He was so funny.
“I just feel such deep sadness for his family if that’s the impression he left on me after just one night.”
His close friend Daryl McMurdo, 22, described him as “one of the best people I have ever met”, adding: “It was an honour to know him. Stuart had this amazing effect on everyone. He didn’t have an aggressive bone in his body.”
More than 12,000 people have left messages on Facebook pages set up in his honour, with posts from friends and family as well as from strangers around the world.
David Cameron urged the public to help solve the murder this week after the local Labour MP Sandra Osborne raised the case during Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons.
A Crown Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that the procurator fiscal at Ayr received a report concerning a 28-year-old male in connection with an alleged incident on August 20, 2011. The case is now closed.”