The "rainbow paper" is bias and misleading

The Rainbow Paper by YES LGBTI Scotland

The Pro-independence group YES LGBTI issued a rainbow paper, which is a manifesto for Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality in an Independent Scotland.  

The rainbow paper is supported by Partick Harvie MSP, a leading campaigner for LGBT equality and human rights.  

The manifesto heavily criticises the UK and Westminster approach to LGBTI Equality and Human Rights and claims that Equality will only be guaranteed through a written Scottish constitutional commitment to LGBT people.

The group also claims that Westminster is holding back and threatens to reverse hard won LGBT equality rights.  

The content of the paper can be read here, in its PDF form.http://www.yesscotland.net/sites/default/files/resources/documents/the_rainbow_paper.pdf 

Daniel Donaldson, an Edinburgh based Equalities Lawyer, responded to some of the claims made by the groupthis evening.  Daniel who also recently experienced horrific Hate Crime, where he was branded a "Peedo" and a "Beast" said:

“The ‘Rainbow Paper’ issued by YES Scotland is misleading people.

“It is important to show a balance here and to not mislead LGBTI people into thinking that the UK is all bad and that an Independent Scotland will be all good, when it comes to protecting and protecting LGBTI human rights.

“It is also disingenuous to say that Scotland has consistency been more progressive than Westminster in terms of LGBTI equality.

“One fatal flaw in the YES LGBTI argument is that YES Scotland want to abolish the UK Supreme Court. Why would anyone want to abolish a Court which has affirmed and defended LGBTI rights, first in terms of LGBTI asylum and refugee status, and then again in terms upholding the non-discrimination provisions of the Equality Act when faced with several challenges by powerful lobby groups.

“This position contrasts with Scotland, where the Scottish Government, under the SNP leadership, sought to water down and exclude Roman Catholic adoption agencies from Equality Law to allow them to discriminate against same-sex couples. Contrast this with that of the UK, which refused to amend the Sexual Orientation Regulations, despite Scottish Government pressure to do so.

“It is also important to remember, that a written constitution, which specifically mentions LGBTI people is no guarantee that LGBTI rights will be protected. The South African constitution mentioned LGBT people, but when it came to considering same-sex marriage, the Government only changed the law after a Court Challenge.

“Without the UK Supreme Court, which currently protects the rights of LGBTI people, across the UK as a whole, a written Scottish Constitution would be meaningless as the Scottish Courts have adopted a critical and highly conservative interpretation of human rights law. Indeed, there was at least one LGBT Asylum case heard in Scotland which failed.

“The UK, having a wide network of Embassies and Consulates across the World has heavily lobbied for LGBT equality. The UK has the standing in the World to take many of the non-LGBTI friendly countries to task over their human rights record, and this has to be acknowledged.

“There is always room for improvement in any constitutional set-up, where equality and human rights are concerned. However, to completely ignore the accomplishments the UK in this field, and to paint everything in such a negative light, it just plain wrong.

“LGBTI people expect more from both sides of the Scottish Independence debate and I would encourage the YES Scotland campaign not to mislead people and be more honest about the advances made in terms of LGBTI equality and human rights in scotland as part of the UK.”

Hate Crime Laws Are Not Working - An Open Letter

Stonewall Scotland's Poster Campaign

An Open Letter to;

Kenny MacAskill MSP, Scottish Justice Secretary,

Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC,

The Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Stephen House,

The Equality and Human Rights Commission and 

The Scottish Human Rights Commission,

12 August 2014

Dear Sirs,

Ineffective Protections against Hate Crime

My Partner and I are on the receiving end of vicious Hate Crime, because of our sexual orientation. 

I had been lead to believe that the criminal justice system would protect both my Partner and myself from Hate Crime.  However, despite the grand standing that took place, heralding the introduction of Hate Crime legislation, by the Scottish Government, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and others, the law is a dud. 

The reasons for this; first, the perpetrators of the Hate Crime are all under the age of 16, and are classified as Children, and second, there is no effective monitoring of how the law protects victims of Hate Crime, allowing solutions to this problem to have been identified. 

I have been branded a “Peedo” and a “Beast” in front of my own home.  Our car windscreen has been smashed in.  Stones, bricks and other missiles have all been thrown at our home, our property is subject to regular trespass and Children will even come as far as the front door to bang and shout abuse.  What is more disturbing, is that the Children even solicited the support of wayward adults to assist in their campaign of terror, shouting “Best, Beast, Beast” at me and my home.

The Children concerned were charged and reported (through the Children’s hearing system).  I had hoped this would out an end to it.  However, because they are under 16, they were free to continue the abuse, and to encourage others to abuse us too.  They knew they would get away with it, which is why they continued, after being charged, reported and warned about their behavior. 

I have nothing but praise for my local Police Officers, who have been very supportive.  However, they find that their hands are tied.  The Police simply do not have sufficient resources locally to be effective, despite Hate Crime being classified as a national priority.  I also note, that the Crown Office does not review the effectiveness of the legislation, and the important legal protection that the law is meant to bring. 

Additionally, public policy considerations designed to promote the rights of the Child – even if the Children concerned are perpetrators of vicious abuse – trump those of the right of the victim to seek redress.  This is deeply disappointing, because as a result, my Partner and I are left without an effective remedy and, are left to suffer further torment.

Notwithstanding our legal entitlement to protection from acts of homophobic abuse, harassment and vandalism, there is little the criminal or civil law can do to help us. 

I am a qualified Solicitor, and sought refuge in the civil law.  I attempted to obtain an Interdict, with power of arrest and non-harassment orders against our abusers.  However, even this route was blocked.  In order to take this action, I would have required the cooperation of the local Social Work department, and the Police in order to obtain the identities of the perpetrators of the abuse.  That cooperation was refused owing to “child confidentiality”. 

We also approached the local Council community safety team at the City of Edinburgh Council for help.  It is now four weeks and counting, but no response.  They have done nothing to help us, nor have they offered any support.  Yet, under the Antisocial Behaviour legislation, they could take action.  So why haven’t they?  In my view, it is down to a question of priorities, and upsetting their colleagues in either Social Work or the Housing Department is not a priority.  A local council is highly unlikely to take Court action against itself now, is it?

My partner and I, are now looking to relocate away from Edinburgh.  We have had enough.  I hope that when we move, we get to enjoy the peace and quiet in our own home, and the freedom from abuse, harassment and vandalism, that we should expect. 

I now expect you gentlemen to take decisive action, given our experience, to prevent anyone else having to endure this horrific torment. 

Yours faithfully,

 Daniel Donaldson