Pride Month: LGBTQ+ community need Pride protests more than ever
Scotland must use Pride month to stand up for equality in the face of toxic campaigns by bigots, transphobes and homophobes, says Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie.
There is clear evidence that LGBTQ+ rights are being rolled back or ignored across the UK. In 2015 the UK ranked top of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) ‘rainbow map’ that assesses LGBTQ+ safety and equality in countries. A decade later, the UK has fallen to second bottom in Western Europe.
The dramatic drop has occurred because of a toxic culture war, which targets the LGBTQ+ community; especially transgender and non-binary people, and has left many feeling unsafe and abandoned by politicians.
In Scotland, the Scottish Government has dropped their commitment to ban conversion therapy practices, the UK Government blocked Gender Recognition Reform, and the Supreme Court has now changed the understanding of the Equality Act to exclude trans people.
Mr Harvie said:
“When the message coming out of our Parliamentary debates echo the division and harm that Section 28 caused until it was repealed 25 years ago, protests like Pride marches are more important than ever before.
“Just a few decades ago, casual and blatant homophobia was very real in our society. We made great strides to change this perception and set an expectation that politicians would support and protect queer people, with elected MP’s and MSP’s feeling safe enough to come out in their public lives. I know that doing so was easier for me because a brave few did so before me, when it wasn't safe or easy.
“But now we are seeing the same old prejudices being stirred up again, this time most frequently targeted against trans and non-binary people, and shamefully, some of our elected representatives are joining in with the cause, stoking the flames of a toxic culture war.
“It is not surprising that political parties have been banned from Pride events up and down Scotland and the wider UK. Many LGBTQ+ people have lost faith in politics and feel abandoned by their representatives, feeling that there is a lack of leadership on our human rights and equality.
“Choosing to support fundamental human rights should not be a radical notion, but one that every political party is expected to fight for; something that the Scottish Greens have long stood for and will continue to do.
“LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and we will defend them; today, tomorrow and always.”