Scotland to introduce equal marriage

[afleitch]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18981287

Oh happy happy happy day.

[Holmes]

How do its prospects look? Last I heard a few days ago, they were waffling.

[afleitch]

How do its prospects look? Last I heard a few days ago, they were waffling.

In Parliament it's prospects are strong. It has the backing of all party leaders and over half of the MSP's have signed a pledge to support it. At last count there are probably only about 15-20 MSPs out of 129 that would vote against it. The bill will be slowed down a little because lots of little caveats have to be included so churches won't sh-t themselves but that happens with any gay issue.

[Holmes]

Those delicate little flowers.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

[Secretary Polnut]

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

[bore]

Good good.

[Lief]

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

Wow, I didn't realize Scotland was that conservative. That's worse than the US!

[Boris]

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

Huh? There's no way that's true....

[Supersonic]

Without postcard or petition responses to the consultation, the results were 65% in favour of gay marriage according to the BBC, if that means anything.

I think the reason the results were skewed against gay marriage to start with is that those opposing the change are far more likely to be activist in their approaches to preventing it, i.e. protests, petitions etc. The hardcore set of pro gay marriage supporters are much smaller. While I'd say a majority, or near that, of Scotland is probably weakly in favour of the change, it's an issue they are not vocal about or in all honesty really care about hence the probable lack of pro gay marriage implementation responses to the consultation.

[Joe Republic]

So will congratulations soon be in order for you and [boyfriend whose name I've forgotten], Andrew? 

[Vosem]

Congratulations, afleitch. Oh, and Phil.

[afleitch]

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

Wow, I didn't realize Scotland was that conservative. That's worse than the US!

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

Huh? There's no way that's true....

As Supersonic said, the responses were part of a consultation; they mostly included petitions etc so minority opinion shouts the loudest. Opinion polls and attitudes surveys put support for equal marriage in Scotland at between 60-65% with only 20% against.

[Secretary Polnut]

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

Wow, I didn't realize Scotland was that conservative. That's worse than the US!

Kind of an interesting contrast to Australia - the Scottish public enquiry got 60-odd% against, but they're going ahead regardless - the Australian public response saw 60-odd% supportive and both laws will get killed in Parliament.

Huh? There's no way that's true....

As Supersonic said, the responses were part of a consultation; they mostly included petitions etc so minority opinion shouts the loudest. Opinion polls and attitudes surveys put support for equal marriage in Scotland at between 60-65% with only 20% against.

Well, despite the best efforts of the Australian Christian Lobby, the Australian Parliamentary Committee survey roughly equalled the support in the opinion polls (57-65%)...