Hundreds take to capital's streets in same-sex marriage march

Same-sex marriage march: Demonstrators take to the streets of Edinburgh.

A march in support of same-sex marriage saw hundreds of people take to the streets of Edinburgh on Saturday.

The event was part of Pride Scotia, the capital's annual gay pride event.

Marchers rallied at Edinburgh City Chambers, where members of the Equality Network and MSPs Marco Biagi, Sarah Boyack and Patrick Harvie spoke in support of equal marriage and equality.

The march then set off down the Royal Mile, where it passed the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh.

Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, said: "Today hundreds of people from across Scotland are marching in Edinburgh to demand equal marriage and full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"We want to send a clear message to the Scottish Government: LGBT people deserve equal rights and will settle for nothing less.

"Polls have consistently shown that two-thirds of Scots support equal marriage for same-sex couples, and an eight to one majority of MSPs have said publicly that they will vote for it when a Bill is introduced.

"We call on the Scottish Government to listen to the public, join with progressive governments around the world, and bring forward legislation without delay."

The public consultation on same-sex marriage closed in December with more than 50,000 responses. The Scottish Government is due to publish the results and announce its decision on Tuesday July 10.

Earlier in June, the Equality Network announced that a majority of MSPs had signed its Equal Marriage Pledge, committing themselves to voting in favour of same-sex marriage.

A total of 74 MSPs have now said they will vote in favour, whilst just nine remain opposed.

A Stonewall report on Friday suggested two-thirds of people support the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Almost half (49%) of those who have a religious faith also back the move, according to the Living Together report.

People who read this story also read