Liberal Youth Scotland today welcomed the announcement from the UK Government that they are consulting on opening civil marriage to same-sex couples. The Liberal Democrats are the only of the main parties to commit to equal marriage, and this is a massive step forward for LGBT rights.
Lynne Featherstone, Equalities Minister, said that whilst the UK was currently a leader for gay rights, there was still more to be done. She added: “To deny one group of people the same opportunities available to another is not simply discriminatory. It is simply not fair.”
Liberal Youth Scotland President Sophie Bridger said: “I am really pleased and excited to see that the Liberal Democrats in government are making this important step in recognising same-sex marriage. We are the only major party to support full equal marriage rights, and its great to such a well-loved policy being enacted in government.”
“But this proposal only refers to civil marriage. For many in the LGBT community marriage is a religious commitment as well as a personal one, and government must respect that.”
“We will keep campaigning for full marriage rights – including religious marriage for same-sex couples, and the extension of civil partnerships to heterosexual couples.”
