“Extend legal marriage to gay couples and civil partnerships to heterosexual couples”
“Develop a more tolerant Scotland, introducing equal marriage.
We’ll introduce legislation for equal partnership – opening marriage and civil partnership up to mixed-sex and same-sex couples, and allowing religious celebrants to conduct civil partnership. We’ll begin a dialogue with the UK Government about the need for cross-border recognition of relationships on the basis of equality.”
“We also believe that the time is now right to consult on options to provide genuine equality for same-sex couples and their families, by addressing the different status of civil partnership and marriage. We are clear – Scotland shouldn’t be left behind on these issues.”
“We will investigate the best way to implement the ‘Alli Amendment’ in Scotland, to give religious organisations that want to, the freedom to hold civil partnerships in their buildings for the first time.”
“We recognise the range of views on the question of same-sex marriage and registration of civil partnerships. We will therefore begin a process of consultation and discussion on these issues”
Bernard Ponsonby: John McKay from Leith asks "Mr Salmond, if re-elected, what stance will you take on the question of allowing heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships, and to allow same-sex couples to marry? David Cameron, Nick Clegg and David Miliband – I think he means Ed Miliband – have already stated that they support the idea."
Alex Salmond: Yeah, I mean, we'll put a consultation paper out, that's in the manifesto. I'm supportive, as long as any individual denomination is not forced into the position. That seems to me very important.
Bernard Ponsonby: Sorry, just explain that last bit.
Alex Salmond: Well you wouldn't have, and incidentally I don't think the gay community are advocating, a circumstance where a denomination would be forced to have a marriage in church, and, you know, some people are confused about that position, but that's not what's being advocated. But I'm supportive and it will go out to consultation.
“The strengthening of civil partnership legislation to full equality with marriage, including religious ceremonies"
“Marriage – should be open to all. Gender-free domestic partnership laws.”
a collection of counterfactual history essays imagining what the Governments of people who never became Prime Minister might have been like.
Despite: rising food and fuel prices, cuts in wages and benefits and despite escalating unemployment...
"Tory Shepway Council increases rents by a whopping 6.47%"Hmm... that does sound bad, I wonder why this is and what Labour proposes to do about it...
"In the words of former Lib Dem now Tory Councillor Sue Wallace "I cannot see there is going to be a problem with people finding the money to pay this extraSo... erm... what is the alternative? What's the plan? Could it be Folkestone Labour Party haven't got that far yet? Opposition is great. But opposition without an alternative is just plain tilting at windmills.
Give the Tories the problem. Throw them out on the 5th May
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A British man was arrested and beaten in Saudi Arabia by religious police when they discovered he was gay.
Stephen Comiskey, a 36-year-old nurse, was threatened with beheading and thrown in a cell, the Sun reports.
He says he was tricked by religious police who sent him a text message pretending to be a friend. Homosexuality is a capital offence in Saudi Arabia.
After his arrest, he was throttled until he signed a confession in Arabic and had his passport taken away.
He spent six months in the country, unsure whether he would be killed.
Mr Comiskey, who had been working at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, was allowed to fly home this week after diplomatic talks.
