February is LGBT+ History Month. Same-sex relationships were legalised in Scotland in 1980, with the Act only coming into force a year later.
In June 2000, I was proud to be a Scottish Labour minister when we repealed legislation that prevented local authorities from “promoting homosexuality.”
We have come a long way since then – LGBT+ citizens have campaigned for decades, going though great personal cost & sacrifice.
In 2021, we need to keep fighting the hatred & discrimination, making sure that LGBT+ rights are protected.
If you haven’t seen ‘It’s a Sin‘, check it out. It’s a moving reminder of how HIV/Aids had a massive impact on health & documents the discrimination that people faced then.