THE partner of an unsung heroine of gay rights in Scotland has paid tribute after her sudden death.

Elizabeth Elliott said she was shocked not only by Sheila MacAskill’s death but also that of fellow campaigner Derek Ogg QC, who died shortly after.

“When I heard of Derek’s death I couldn’t believe it – it just seemed so ironic they died within a fortnight of each other,” she said.

Along with Ian Dunn, the pair were instrumental in bringing the law on homosexuality into line with England and Wales.

Although Scotland now has a reputation for being one of the most progressive countries in the world on issues of sexuality, it was a criminal offence until as recently as 1980 for men to have consensual sex with each other.

While the law had been reformed in England and Wales in 1967, it took another 13 years before the same legislation was adopted into Scots law.

It wasn’t the first time Scotland had been against reform as it was the last jurisdiction in Europe to get rid of the death penalty for men for same-sex sexual intercourse, changing the sentence to life imprisonment in 1889. (There was never an explicit ban on sexual relations between women.)

Eighty years later, Dunn, MacAskill and Ogg were key players in the campaign for complete decriminalisation, going as far as the European Court in their fight to have homosexual rights recognised.

When they finally succeeded in 1980, MacAskill, who was already suffering from severe ill health, was content to retreat from publicity.

Yet although women were not directly affected by the reform, her work was crucial as she lobbied politicians of all parties to back the change in law.

“She was pivotal, but she was an unsung heroine because she did not seek the limelight,” said Elliott. “She was totally dedicated to what she was doing and when there were opportunities to be interviewed afterwards she just could not be bothered.”

Born in 1946 in Glasgow,

MacAskill was not cowed by the prejudice against homosexuality, proclaiming that she had come out of the womb gay, “end of story”.

However, although it was not illegal for women to have sex with each other it was difficult for lesbians to meet, so MacAskill began to set up safe places for homosexuals to socialise.

As well as pioneering such events in Glasgow, which she publicised through discreet adverts, she set up a helpline which soon became in high demand.

It was at one of the social events that Elliott met MacAskill and they became lifelong partners.

“She set up discos in Glasgow for men and women which were absolutely marvellous,” said Elliott. “Glasgow City Council granted a licence, but at the same time you had one eye on the door because the law had not changed and we could get raided.

“However, the atmosphere was terrific. Sheila was the DJ and ran themed discos which resulted in a competition to judge best outfits.”

A member of the executive of the Scottish Minorities Group (SMG) – one of the UK’s earliest gay rights organisations, set up by Dunn in 1969 – MacAskill managed to establish the first permanent premises, which were in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.

The only woman on the SMG executive, she was chair when the campaign to change the law ramped up and she helped to lay the groundwork for the passing of the 1980 bill. As well as lobbying politicians, she was often out promoting and raising the profile of homosexuality to groups, ranging from students to health practitioners.

“She was constantly telling people about what repressive attitudes do to young people – the level of suicide at that time was high,” said Elliott.

In the preliminary submission to the European Commission on Human Rights, MacAskill said that attitudes in Scottish society at the time were “calculated to make the homosexual see him or herself in a quite evil and guilty aspect”.

She continued: “I am, as a self-avowed homosexual woman, subject to many discriminatory attitudes which effectively applied, can and do inhibit and deny my ability to be a fully participating and integrated member of this Scottish society to which I rightfully belong.”

The appeal to Europe forced the issue on to the public agenda but was allowed to lapse when the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 was amended, extending the 1967 reforms in England and Wales to Scotland.

By that time, MacAskill had developed the severe form of the auto-immune disease lupus, from which she suffered for the rest of her life until she died on April 17 following a stroke. She was 73 years old.

Ogg died at his Glasgow home a fortnight later on May 1, at the age of 65.

Dunn died in Edinburgh in 1998 after a heart attack, aged just 54.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry joined in paying tribute, saying: “Whilst I was very sad to hear of Sheila’s death, it is wonderful to see her story being told. Thanks to the courage and pioneering work of Sheila, and women like her, lesbians can play a full part in Scotland’s public life rather than hiding in the shadows. It is also heartening to be reminded of how hard she worked to ensure gay men’s rights. People like me owe Sheila MacAskill a huge debt of gratitude. Without her groundwork, lesbians and gay men in Scotland would not have gone on to enjoy the equality that we do today. I extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences to her widow Elizabeth.”