Indyref: Gay Rights Campaigners Urge 'Vote Yes For Equality'

Westminster control is holding back and threatens to reverse progress on gay rights, that's according to Yes LGBT.

The group have published a Rainbow Paper outlining seven ways in which independence will help secure greater equality for LGBT people, including enshrining LGBT equality in a written constitution, securing the power to protect and improve equality law, securing the power to protect spending on LGBT equality measures in public services, the chance to create a compassionate asylum system that offers protection to those facing persecution, and full control over foreign policy and international development enabling Scotland to actively promote LGBT rights around the world as part of a progressive Scottish foreign policy agenda.

The organisation argues that the demonstrable benefits of Independence for LGBT people in Scotland are in stark contrast to the threats posed to equality under Westminster control, including the lack of constitutional protections and Tory plans to scrap the Human Rights Act, water-down the Equality Act, and continue cutting Scotland's block grant.

Kirsty MacAlpine, Co-convener of Yes LGBT, said: 

"Independence offers Scotland a unique opportunity to secure the powers and resources we need to ensure full equality for LGBT people here, and to play our role in promoting human rights around the world.

'Over the past 15 years of the Scottish Parliament, Scotland has consistently taken a more progressive approach to LGBT equality than Westminster, with world-leading laws and leadership in the areas where we have control. With the Tory-led UK Government now planning to repeal the Human Rights Act and cut Scotland's block grant it is only with independence that we can protect and continue progress towards the fair and equal Scotland we all want to see."
 
Patrick Harvie MSP, the openly bisexual Co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party, said: 

"Holyrood is a Parliament which has never once voted against any aspect of LGBT equality, and that's not something that can be said of Westminster. There are many opportunities which independence offers, from a humane asylum system to constitutional protection for all citizens’ equality. We have nothing to fear from independence, and much to gain. 

"Scotland has changed. Once a country which held out for years against decriminalisation of male same-sex relationships, we are now a country which gave equal marriage the third biggest majority of any country in the world. We should be proud of that progress, and unafraid of taking responsibility for all the decisions about our country’s future."
 
Alan Cumming, Holywood actor and LGBT activist, said: 

"I'm proud that an independent Scotland will give its LGBT citizens the rights and respect they deserve, and enshrine those rights in the Constitution. Another example of the positive future we all have by voting Yes."

A Better Together Spokesperson said:

"The UK's LGBT rights record is something that people right across these isles can be proud of. The UK has been voted the best place to be LGBT in Europe for three years running.

"The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), reports on the LGBT rights record of European countries. For the third year in a row the UK came out on top, scoring 82%, a 5% increase on the 2013 figure.  This score put the UK LGBT rights record ahead of countries like Norway and Sweden. 

"We do not need to turn our backs on our friends and family across the UK. We can have the best of both worlds, more powers for Scotland whilst getting the opportunities which come with being part of the UK, and avoiding the risks of separation. It's what the majority of Scots want, and we can have it by saying No Thanks to separation on 18 September"