Scotland for Marriage to protest against marriage equality meeting
Campaigners against marriage equality in Scotland are planning to hold a protest outside a Scottish cabinet meeting this Thursday.
Scotland For Marriage are expecting 100 people to join with them when the Scottish cabinet meets in Renfrew.
The Scottish Government’s pledge to push for legislation for marriage equality – which Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said was “the right thing to do” – has angered more than a few of the country’s religious leaders.
Scotland For Marriage describing the plans as “ill-conceived and poorly thought-out”.
The group say they have the support of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and the non-denominational Christian Institute charity. Their protest, they say, is to highlight concerns that changing the law may mean that school teachers will be disciplined if they refuse to discuss same-sex relationships with their classes.
According to the Hamilton Advertiser, the protesters intend to brandish banners displaying the covers of LGBT-positive books such as Daddy’s Roommate, Mom And Mum Are Getting Married and The Sissy Duckling.
A Scotland For Marriage spokesman said: “Under sex education rules, schools must tell children about marriage. If the legal definition of marriage is changed, there will be political pressure for books like this to be used.
“Our legal advice is that teachers could be disciplined if they refuse to use the resources.
“Parents may also find it difficult to withdraw children from classes. Our supporters are highly motivated and harbour deep fears for the future that if the marriage laws are redefined, gay marriage will be promoted to schoolchildren in Scotland.”
If government proposals are passed, same-sex couples will be able to have a religious wedding – though Ms Sturgeon has said that no church or religious celebrant would be forced to conduct same-sex ceremonies.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who has previously described equal marriage as a “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”, turned down an invitation to discuss the issue with Alex Salmond this week said the BBC, leaving any future talks to his representatives.
