Gay marriage: Petition argues against legal changes. Pic: © STV
MSPs have agreed to put a petition against legalising same-sex marriage on hold until the Scottish Government publishes the results of its consultation on the same issue.
The document, considered by Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to make no changes to "the current definition of marriage, as being a union between one man and one woman".
It follows a Government consultation in 2011 which called for a range of views on whether gay couples should be allowed to marry, stating its own initial view was that same-sex marriage should be legalised.
The petitioner, Amy King, said the Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey stating that 61% of Scots support same-sex marriage "was loaded in favour of that outcome".
She said the survey had been "freely used by homosexual rights activists and the media as justification to introduce same-sex marriage".
She went on to quote a report entitled "Civil Partnerships Five Years On", published in September 2011, which she said showed that less than 50% of the public supported same-sex marriage.
Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network said: "The derogatory views expressed in this petition are outdated, inaccurate and homophobic. If similar claims were made on the basis of race they would rightly be condemned as racist, and I have no doubt that most people will find such claims against LGBT people equally appalling.
"We welcome Scottish Government proposals to lift the ban on same-sex marriage. For us this is a simple issue of love and equality. We believe that loving same-sex couples are entitled to equal treatment under the law and in society.”
Currently, same-sex couples can enter a civil partnership which carries full legal rights but the ceremony cannot be conducted in a church or other religious premises.
The proposals would ensure religious organisations do not have to register same-sex marriages against their will.
The 14-week consultation, which ended on December 9, attracted strong views from both sides of the debate.
Committee convenor David Stewart said: "This is undoubtedly an extremely important issue and clearly the Scottish Government has done a comprehensive consultation.
"I would stress that in no sense are we putting this on the backburner, what is important is that we await proper feedback from the Scottish Government."
Committee members agreed to write to the Government to alert it to the petition and ask to receive the responses to its consultation before proceeding further.
Meanwhile, the UK Government will launch its own public consultation on how to make marriage available to same-sex couples later this year.
People who read this story also read
-
Fresh attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland
Margo MacDonald MSP, whose first bid fell in a free vote, argues there is support among the public for legal assisted suicide.
- New tartan design marks arrival of pandas at Edinburgh Zoo
-
New village with 1000 homes planned at former airbase
- Man in court over robbery attempt which left 83-year-old injured
-
Survey finds English in favour of 'devo-max' powers for Scotland
