I was intrigued to find out more about LGBTQ+ history in Scotland, and discovered this pop-up infographic created by Pink Saltire describing Scotland’s LGBT Equality Journey from 1603 to 2018. We have a long and important LGBT history in Scotland, documented over the years by a number of different organisations and dedicated individuals. Thanks to a team of heritage volunteers, valuable reference materials and research, and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Pink Saltire produced the most detailed timeline of Scotland’s LGBT journey ever (which you can see further below).
There have been a few other notable moments for LGBTQ+ community in Scotland over the past 2 years!
- 2018 – In November, the Scottish Government announced plans to start providing an ‘X’ sex descriptor on identity documents, as well as lowering the the minimum age of transition to 16.
- 2019 – In September, a bill to open civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples was introduced to the Scottish Parliament.
- 2019 – In October, the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Bill (Scotland’s “Turing Law”) went into full effect.
- 2020 – In January, same-sex marriage legislation went into full effect in Northern Ireland; meaning same-sex marriage was officially legal in all 4 countries of the United Kingdom.
- 2020 – In April, several bills and amendments were introduced regarding hate crime laws within Scottish Parliament that explicitly included sexual orientation and gender identity.
- 2020 – In July, more than 200,000 people signed an online petition calling for “conversion therapy” – aimed at changing a person’s sexuality – to be made illegal in the UK.
- 2020 – In July, the Scottish Government announced it’ll include an LGBTQ+ history education curriculum in its schools. The first country in the world! This was indicated back in November of 2018 and is now confirmed that the curriculum will start in 2021.
It’s outstanding how the LGBTQ+ community has evolved in Scotland through the years. The likes of Section 28 introduced in 1988 to stop councils promoting LGBTQ in schools; to Scotland being the first country in the world to include an LGBTQ+ history and education curriculum (initiating in 2021). This is amazing considering studies in 2018 found that about 9 in 10 LGBTQ+ Scots experienced homophobia at school, and 27% reported they had attempted suicide after being bullied.
We’ve come a long way, especially in the last 40 years (1980) when it became legalised in Scotland. However there is still a long way to go fight for human rights all across the world and stop the punishments and prejudices many of our generation have been used to. Let’s set the mark for the this and the next generations! Love is love; homophobia should NEVER be tolerated; and we should always speak out for what it right!
If you want to learn more about the LGBTQ+ through my website:
- you can discover the terminology and meanings behind LGBTTQQIAAP by clicking here.
- read “The Good Homosexuality” to find out about Christianity and homosexuality through the analysis of the Good Samaritan parable.
- read “I AM Way” as I describe my journey coming out, and figuring out how my homosexuality and Christianity didn’t have to collide.
Thanks for reading!