Which side of history will our politicians be on?

The National

13-06-2025

But increasing disappointments around equality and human rights rollbacks across the world beg the question: where can the community find that joy and hope when it feels like there is none?
Pride started not as the palatable rainbow march, parades and parties that we have become accustomed to, but as the result of a riot to fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
The police raid and subsequent riot on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, was commemorated a year later and has since become the catalyst for the annual celebration of LGBTQIA+ rights that we call Pride. In those 56 years, the overall picture for LGBTQIA+ rights and liberation has promised progress overall.
READ MORE: Tartan Army fan who trekked to Euros embarking on new challenge with 'special' goal
Scotland just celebrated 10 years of equal marriage, and the importance of protecting LGBTQIA+ rights is internationally recognised. This should be a reason to celebrate how far we have come in just over half a century.
What has also been constant, though, is the use of the community as political pawns. This is becoming increasingly obvious to those who feel they are being pulled along for the ride, their existence scrutinised and challenged time and time again.
This year's nationwide ban on political parties from marching in Pride celebrations only proves that there is a lot of love lost.
We need to rebuild LGBTQIA+ people's trust not only in democracy, but in politicians elected to represent them.
During Pride Month this year, it would do well for all politicians to go back to basics and understand what allyship really means, and decide which side of history they wish to be on.
First, allyship is a continued commitment. The SNP Government let down LGBTQIA+ people late last year with the delay of a long-promised conversion practices ban, keeping them suspended only to let them down again in May when they dropped the ban completely.
These horrific practices are permitted in the UK, and are a hidden shame we must stamp out if we are to continue to be viewed as a progressive nation.
(Image: Ed Nix)
The SNP's allyship seems to stop at doing the work. They are more than happy to outsource a ban on conversion practices to the UK Government despite having the powers to implement it here in Scotland right now.
Choosing to rely on a Labour Government which is yet to prove itself as champions of any marginalised community, especially the ones that won them their election, is looking like a long shot for progress.
Slamming on the brakes is simply not the right action to take when we are seeing a global rollback of progressive values and human rights.
Just weeks ago, the UK dropped to its lowest-ever position on the European rankings for LGBTQIA+ rights.
We cannot sit on our hands and wait for the rest of Europe to fall behind us to improve our score.
We must take action to do better now. Allyship is best when it is with rather than for people. That means showing up and listening, not just paying lip service.
We need more LGBTQIA+ representation in politics, and that means parties must take deeply seriously the bigoted, homophobic nature of much of the bile that is spewed upon candidates, particularly on social media.
Setbacks such as Thatcher's Section 28 should be viewed as a cautionary tale of how bad things can get, not as the blueprint for how Scotland and the UK should move forward.
Human rights and equalities must extend beyond party politics and policies. These are real people we interact with each day, who bear the emotional and mental toll of the debates and discussions held.
These are people who vote for us in good faith, in the hopes that we will protect their rights and improve their lives.
And recently, it is clear that they have felt abandoned and excluded from the conversation.
We need to take seriously the calls which LGBTQIA+ people make, and not just those made in formal political settings. The voices chanting at the rally are as valid as the ones sending policy briefs to elected representatives.
The Scottish Greens have been long-time proponents of a more participative democracy – that means inviting members of the public into policy development at early stages, facilitating learning and healthy dialogue, and then honouring the proposals that they craft.
Initiatives like these can increase public trust in politicians, showing communities how valued and critical they are in decision-making.
These sessions have been used across Europe including in France to discuss assisted dying and in Ireland to shape the lifting of their notorious abortion ban.
Political decisions should include those who will be directly affected by the choices made in our chambers and committees.
We regularly see the power that lobbying groups hold to effect change when legislation is being debated.
There needs to be a tone shift by politicians to invite even more groups of people into their decision-making fold, specifically including marginalised groups like the LGBTQIA+ community.
By this time next year, I hope that I will be able to write a more positive column for Pride Month, and I hope that I can proudly say we live in a more compassionate and welcoming Scotland that tops the list as far as allyship goes.