LGBT+ Address Scottish Liberal Democrats Conference 2015

Below is my recent speech to Scottish Liberal Democrat conference:

Conference I would like to begin by thanking you. All those years ago you took a heroic step in backing that edgy Liberal Youth Scotland motion supporting that then radical concept of equal marriage. This made the Scottish Liberal Democrats the first party in the UK to back equal marriage. In the five years that have followed equal marriage has became slightly less of a niche idea. Because of you conference, couples across Britain can stand up in front of their families,  friends and communities, safe in the knowledge that their relationships are valued by the state just as much as anyone else's. Thank you conference!

Now some people tell me that because we have same sex marriage we are now all equal. But conference I am angry. I am angry that nearly 70% of LGBT young people fare bullying in school.  I am angry that one in ten leave education because of homophobia or transphobia. I am angry that 40% suffer from mental health problems, far more than their “straight” counterparts. I am angry that the transgender community continue to be marginalised and stigmatised by the health system which is supposed to care for them. Conference I am that I cannot walk down the street holding my partners hand without facing homophobic abuse and insults. Conference I am angry that LGBT domestic abuse victims are sidelined due to tired stereotypes. And conference I am angry, no I am livid, that over half of all LGBT young people have self harmed. This is no equality I recognise.

Now conference we have some fantastic policies concerning LGBT issues but we can go much further.

Let's take the blood ban for example. We led the way by calling for a review of the blanket ban on  gay men giving blood. We have succeeded in reducing the limit to six months. But this is simply not good enough. Why a should a gay man in a steady monogamous relationship be stopped from donating while a straight man who sleeps with multiple partners and doesn't use protection be allowed to. This isn't science, its prejudice plain and simple.

We must tackle homophobic bullying. All schools should have clear anti discrimination policies.  All school staff should be trained in LGBT issues. And LGBT health and history should be embedded in the curriculum for excellence.

Conference we've come a long way but we've got so much further to go. We must strive towards a society where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people no longer live in fear, no longer are forced to deny who they are and are no longer made to feel different.