Nicola Sturgeon: We must continue fight for LGBT equality
Scottish First Miniter Nicola Sturgeon has said that she believes that there is still more work to do to ensure LGBT equality in Scotland.
The politician was in Glasgow last night at Scotland’s first LGBTI awards ceremony.
Ms Sturgeon was named the Politician of the Year at the event – which was organised by the Equality Network and the was first awards of its kind to take place in Scotland.
Speaking to PinkNews at the event, the Scottish leader expressed her delight at winning the award.
She said: “It’s a big privilege – it’s a very special award and I’m delighted.
“If I can do one thing above all else in politics, I want to play a part in making Scotland a more equal country.
“So to have this recognition is something that means a great deal to me.”
Ms Sturgeon also promised to continue the fight for LGBT equality in Scotland, as she discussed the “challenges we’ve still got to address.”
“I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but we still see surveys like we did recently, saying that the majority of LGBT people still suffer discrimination and prejudice.
“We’ve still got to tackle that.
“I think there is more we need to do for the transgender communities – so it’s a big agenda and I’m determined that we keep moving in the right direction.”
However, although the First Minister feels there is still more work to be done, she went onto to say that she felt “optimistic” regarding the future of LGBT rights – both in Scotland and across the world.
“We’ve got to keep the pressure on, those of us who believe in equality as a fundamental human right – we have to continue to make that case.”
“I’m optimistic – we should never underestimate that challenges that people in other countries still live with – but I’m optimistic that one day we’ll have a world where we are all just treated for who we are and the discriminations and prejudice of the past are exactly that – in the past.
Other winners of the night included popular TV host Lorraine Kelly – who later discussed with PinkNews how much LGBT rights have changed during her lifetime.
