Scotland's LGBT+ organisations call on First Minister candidates to honour existing commitments to community
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Scotland's national LGBT+ organisations have collectively called on First Ministerial candidates to commit to honouring the Scottish Government's existing commitments to equality for the community.
The Equality Network, Scottish Trans, LEAP Sports Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland and LGBT Health and Wellbeing have written to Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes asking them to confirm their support for five commitments the Scottish Government have already made to improve the lives of LGBT+ people.
The first point on the open letter concerns conversion practices, for which a bill has already been introduced, to protect LGBT+ people from attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Secondly the candidates have been asked to keep the Gender Recognition Reform Bill on their books, and commit to battling the UK Government's Section 35 order which blocked Holyrood legislation that would have simplified the process for trans people to change their legal gender.
Next of the open letter's points is honouring the Scottish Government's commitment to improving the health of LGBT+ people through improving mental health strategies and working to prevent self-harm, as well as continuing to fund gender identity services through the NHS.
Each candidate has been asked to show leadership on improving attitudes towards LGBT+ people at a time when hate crime targeting people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is on the rise, and public discourse around the LGBT+ community is increasingly polarised.
Finally, the organisations have asked each candidate to commit to continuing work on implementing LGBT-inclusive education after Scotland became the first country in the world to make LGBT+ education a mandatory part of schools' curricula.
Together, Scotland's LGBT+ organisations believe those commitments will help LGBT+ people in Scotland be free to live happy and healthy lives, reduce young people's experiences of bullying, and ensure Scotland is a safe and welcoming country for all.
LGBT+ rights were thrown into the spotlight in the race to become Scotland's next First Minister when candidate Kate Forbes kicked off her campaign by saying she would not have voted for same-sex marriage or the GRR bill, as well as refusing to rule out a complete ban on conversion therapy.
Director of Equality Network Tim Hopkins said: “We appreciate that there will be many issues for the next First Minister to deal with.
"As LGBT+ organisations, our concern is that the existing commitments by the Scottish Government, which value and support Scotland’s LGBT+ people, will be continued by the new First Minister. Will the candidates confirm that, or is there a risk that those commitments will be dropped?”
Dr Rebecca Crowther, policy co-ordinator at Equality Network, said: “Scotland deserves a leader who will continue pushing for equality and human rights in all aspects of life. We need a leader who will do everything they can to ensure we are all free from harm and to be who we are.
"We must see our humanity and human rights reflected in legislation; they must challenge section 35, and deliver gender recognition reform, we must push for better accessible healthcare, tackle rising hate crime and, we must finally end harmful conversion practices that have devastating long term effects.
"We need a First Minister who has the strength of leadership, and the willing, to achieve all of this.”
Scottish Trans manager Vic Valentine added: “While for now this might be a contest about who leads the SNP, ultimately whoever is successful will go on to lead the country.
"LGBT+ people are a part of Scotland’s communities, and trans people are your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.
"It is absolutely vital that the future First Minister takes decisions in the interests of everyone, and rather than seeing protecting and improving trans people’s lives and rights as an optional add-on, understands that doing so is a small but important part of leading a Scotland in which everyone can thrive.”
