ORGANISERS are celebrating a massive turnout for this year’s Pride festival in Glasgow.
Thousands of people braved wind and rain on Saturday for the annual parade, while many more enjoyed fair weather for yesterday’s celebrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) pride.
The key theme of Pride Glasgow this year was a call to ensure that schools play a bigger part in tackling discrimination and bullying.
Campaigners want the SNP Government to introduce mandatory teaching of LGBTI issues in Scotland’s schools.
They believe the move is needed to protect pupils suffering from homophobic bullying and say such a reform would be potentially more groundbreaking than the same-sex marriage equality law passed in the last parliament.
Other key demands at this year’s Glasgow Pride centred on more recognition of the rights of transgender people, with Transgender Rights Now a slogan of the weekend.
There were also calls to take a tougher line against homophobic hate crimes and for civil partnerships to be available for all couples in Scotland, not just those in same-sex relationships – a proposal the government is currently considering.
Motorised floats playing loud party music carried revellers dressed in colourful costumes, while members of trade unions such as Unite and EIS carried pro-equality banners.
Others groups on the march ranged from members of the Episcopal Church right through to US Democrats Abroad.
SNP deputy leadership contender Alyn Smith, who is gay, said he expected his party to make it compulsory for schools to do more to promote LGBTI issues.
Smith, an MEP, said: “We need a more comprehensive approach and they [SNP ministers] are totally on board and are just mulling it over.”
Jamie Greene, a Tory MSP for West Scotland who is also gay, added: “I was bullied at school and it’s sad that 25 years on it’s still going on, so we do need a firmer line on the issue.”
Tim Hopkins of the Equality Network said that while the Scottish Government had a good record on equality, more needed to be done.
“The Scottish Government deserves a lot of credit for its record on equality such as over equal marriage in the last session and it has got a good record,” he said.
“While the situation in schools is much better than it once was, there are some schools where there is still a problem with young people being bullied.”
“In education, we’re calling on the Scottish government to show leadership. There are a number of practical things that can be done such as providing more training for teachers on LGBTI inclusion.”
Scotland’s Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said it was important to make sure young people were getting the support they needed.
“It’s great that it’s recognised that Scotland is a leader in LGBT equality, but there is no place for conceit or complacency,” she said.
“It’s important we listen to people where they are saying that we need to make sure young people are getting the support they need in schools.
“We want to increase confidence support for all young LGBTI people in education.”
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