Open Letter to Alasdair Allan

Dear Dr Alasdair Allan MSP,

We, the undersigned, are people living in the Western Isles who are disappointed that you, as our MSP for Na h-Eileanan Siar, chose to vote against the Scottish Government’s Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, when it passed its first parliamentary stage on the 20th November 2013.

This Bill will give people of the same sex equal marriage rights to heterosexual couples. We therefore believe the passing of this Bill will constitute an important step in making Scotland a fairer, better place to live in for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people.

We believe passionately in this Bill because it will afford every couple in the islands who loves each other the right to celebrate that love with their community through the ancient institution of marriage. The Bill has protections within it to ensure no religious organization will ever be required to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony against its will, preserving the religious freedom of the Western Isles Christian churches.

In a statement to The Stornoway Gazette you explained your decision, writing:

“Since the issue of same-sex marriage was first raised, hundreds of people in the islands have been in touch with me, the overwhelming majority of whom have expressed views in favour of continuing a traditional definition of marriage.

In responding to people, I have pointed out that I am supportive of the existing rights of same-sex couples to civil partnerships, and that I welcome the belated respect which society rightly gives gay people, but that I believe difficult issues are raised around the specific question of marriage.

This view has also been informed by the strength of feeling which exists among many people in the islands.”

While we welcome your support of civil partnerships, the LGBTQ community can never achieve the full respect of any society while a right as fundamental as the right to marry the person you love is withheld from them.

When two people – any two people – are deeply in love they want to celebrate their love with their extended families and the close-knit communities that make the islands such a special place to live in. They want to dance the Strip the Willow into the small hours in village halls and start their honeymoons by catching Calmac ferries early in the morning. They want an island wedding.

We present this petition in the hope of proving to you that, although those opposed to marriage equality have the loudest voices, there is a silent majority of people in the Western Isles – both LGBTQ people and their allies, both religious and non-religious – who strongly believe passing this Bill is the right thing to do, especially given how well it safeguards religious freedom.

We, the undersigned, therefore call on you to listen to this silent majority and vote in favour of the Bill in its second stage.

Leis gach deagh dhùrachd,

Dòmhnall Iain MacDonald, Eriskay

Stephen Campbell, Benbecula

Siân MacLeod, South Uist

For media or any other enquiries, please contact domhnall.macdonald@gmail.com

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Litir Fhosgailte gu Alasdair Ailean

A Dhotair Alasdair Ailean BPA,

Tha sinne, an luchd-soighnidh, mar luchd-comhnaidh nan Eilean Siar, mi-thoilichte gun do bhòt sibhse, ar BPA, an aghaidh a’ Bhile ‘Marriage and Civil Partnerships’ aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba, nuair a choisinn e a chiad stèids air 20mh Samhain 2013.

Bheireadh am Bile seo na h-aon chòraichean pòsaidh do dhaoine den aon ghnè ’s a th’aig càraidean den dà ghnè. Air sgàth sin, tha sinn a’ creidsinn gum biodh am Bile seo na cheum cudromach air an rathad gus Alba a chruthachadh a tha nas rèidhe’s nas fhèarr airson daoine Leasbach, Gèidh, Dà-ghnèitheach, Tar-ghnèitheach agus Queer (LGDTQ).

Tha sinn gu dìograsach a’ creidsinn anns a’ Bhile seo air sgàth ‘s gun toir e a’ chòir dhan h-uile càraid sna h-eileanan aig a bheil làn-ghaol dha chèile an gaol sin a chomharrachadh còmhla ris a’ choimhearsnachd aca tro sheann chleachdadh pòsaidh. Tha am Bile a’ dèanamh cinnteach nach bi dleastanas gu bràth air buidhnean creideimh pòsadh aona-ghnè a chur air dòigh murabheil iad ga iarraidh ’s mar sin a’ dìon saorsa creideamh Eaglaisean Crìosdaidh nan Eilean Siar.

Dh’inns sibh ri Gaset Steòrnabhaigh carson a bhòt sibh mar a rinn sibh:

“Since the issue of same-sex marriage was first raised, hundreds of people in the islands have been in touch with me, the overwhelming majority of whom have expressed views in favour of continuing a traditional definition of marriage.

In responding to people, I have pointed out that I am supportive of the existing rights of same-sex couples to civil partnerships, and that I welcome the belated respect which society rightly gives gay people, but that I believe difficult issues are raised around the specific question of marriage.

This view has also been informed by the strength of feeling which exists among many people in the islands.”

Ged a tha sinn toilichte gu bheil sibh a’ toirt taic do chompàirteachasan sìobhalta, chan fhaigh a’ choimhearsnachd LGBTQ làn urram sluagh sam bìth ma bhios còir cho cudthromach ris a’chòir an leannan agad a phòsadh air a chumail bhuapa fhathast.

Nuair a bhios dithis – dithis sam bith – trom ann an gaol le chèile, tha iad airson an gaol tha sin a dhearbhadh còmhla ri an teaghlach ’s càirdean agus na dlùth choimhearsnachdan a tha dèanamh na h-eileanan againn cho sònraichte. Tha iad ag iarraidh a bhith a’ dannsadh an Strip the Willow gu trì uairean sa mhadainn is aiseag Calmac fhaighinn tràth sa mhadainn airson Mìos nam Pòg aca. Tha iad ag iarraidh banais Ghàidhealach.

Tha sinn a’ toirt dhut an ath-chuinge seo airson sealltainn dhut, ged a tha an gleadhraich as àirde a’ tighinn bhon fheadhainn a tha an aghaidh còirichean co-ionnan pòsaidh, tha mòr-chuid sàmhach anns na h-Eileanan an Iar – an dà chuid daoine LGDTQ is an caraidean, is an dà chuid creidmhich is neo-chreidmhich – a tha gu làidir a’ smaointinn gu bheil e ceart taic a thoirt dhan Bhile seo, gu h-àraid leis cho math ’s a tha e a’ dìon saorsa creideimh.

Air sgàth sin, tha sinne, an luchd-soighnidh, a’ moladh ort èisteachd ris a’ mhòr-chuid shàmhach agus bhòtadh airson a’Bhile nuair a bhiose anns an dàrna stèids aige.

Leis gach deagh dhùrachd,

Dòmhnall Iain Dòmhnallach, Eirisgeidh

Steaphainn Caimbeul, Beinn nam Faodhla

Siân NicLeòid, Uibhist a Deas

Mas ann às na meadhanan a tha sibh, no ma tha sibh ag iarraidh fiosrachadh sam bith eile, caith post-d gu domhnall.macdonald@gmail.com