Category: LGBT+
Draft bill to end conversion practices in England and Wales published at Westminster: what does this mean for Scotland?
The UK government has finally published a draft bill to end conversion practices in England and Wales. What does this mean for Scotland? Draft bill published at Westminster The long overdue publication of this draft bill marks an important step…
Humanist Society Interview Series: Roslyn Mould on LGBT+ rights in West Africa and more
In a special Pride Month instalment of our interview series, we speak to Roslyn Mould, Vice-President of Humanists International and the President of Accra Atheists. She tells us about the huge challenges facing humanists and the LGBT+ community in her…
Humanist Society interview series: Maggie Chapman MSP on ending conversion practices
To mark the end of Pride Month, we speak to Green MSP and longstanding social justice campaigner Maggie Chapman about why conversion practices must end in Scotland. Hi Maggie! Please introduce yourself… I’m Maggie. I’m a longtime political activist and…
Section 28, 25 years on: a campaigner reflects
25 years ago, Scotland repealed an infamous piece of government legislation that prevented the “promotion of homosexuality” in schools and local authorities across the UK. The legal scholar and activist Brian Dempsey was part of the campaign to end the…
Scottish government shelves conversion practices bill: our response
During his Programme for Government announcement on 6 May, John Swinney confirmed Scottish Government had shelved a watertight bill to end conversion practices. Our Policy and Campaigns Officer Joe Higgins responds. What has happened? Earlier this month, the Scottish government…
New census data reveals Scotland’s LGBT+ community is far more likely to be non-religious
The Scottish census 2022 was the first in history to ask people about their sexual orientation and history of gender identity. Our Policy and Campaigns Officer Joe takes a deep dive into the data, which confirms that our LGBT+ community…
Assisted dying, ending conversion practices, decriminalising abortion, and more: our plans for 2025
A new year is here and there’s work to be done. What are the priorities for Scottish Humanist Society in 2025? Assisted dying Assisted dying is a major cause for humanist movements around the world, including ours. With a historic…
The year in humanism: news and campaigns round-up
What a year it’s been. With religious authoritarianism on the march around the world, let’s take some time to celebrate the many victories for humanism in 2024. Here a round up of campaigns and news moments from across the year….
Looking back on Festival of Humanism 2024
What a day! At our sold-out Festival of Humanism in Glasgow we heard from expert speakers on topics ranging from assisted dying to AI. There were tears, laughter, anger, and hope, as we explored the big issues facing our movement…
Our CEO interviewed in The Herald on influence of international religious right in Scotland
Our CEO Fraser Sutherland was interviewed by Neil Mackay in yesterday’s Herald on Sunday. Fraser talks about the influence of the international religious right on debates from assisted dying to trans rights, and how Scotland (and us) became a lightning…
Humanist Society interview series: Emma Roddick MSP on conversion practices
John Swinney recently shelved plans to criminalise conversion practices in Scotland, in spite of the water-tight bill drafted over many years by experts and LGBT+ Scots with lived experience of abuse. We spoke to former equalities minister Emma Roddick about…