Veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has called on Alex Salmond and the SNP administration to legalise same-sex civil marriage in Scotland, writes Oliver Farrimond.

He also condemned the “disproportionate influence” of the Catholic Church on the Scottish Government, saying that church leaders were “out of touch” with ordinary Catholics.

Tatchell, who has campaigned on gay rights issues for more than 40 years, was speaking ahead of his appearance today (17 Nov) at a National Library event with former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway.

In an interview before today’s event, he claimed that while Scotland had previously been seen as leading the way on gay rights, particularly in repealing Section 28, in recent years it had been “slow” on certain issues.

Tatchell, 57, said: “The ban on same-sex civil marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships is a form of sexual apartheid – one law for gays and another for straights.

“I appeal to Alex Salmond and the SNP to lead the way by legislating same-sex civil marriage in Scotland.

“I hope Scotland will pioneer marriage equality and show-up England’s failings on gay human rights.

“Scotland led the way on repealing Section 28 but it’s been a bit slow on issues like child adoption by lesbian and gay couples.

“But the Catholic hierarchy seems to have disproportionate influence with the SNP government.”

Responding to Tatchell’s call for legalised same-sex marriage, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The law already allows same sex couples to register and formalise their relationship by forming a civil partnership.

“The rights and responsibilities that flow from civil partnership largely mirror those that flow from marriage.

“While we listen to representations on such issues, we have no current plans to amend the law in this area."

Mr Tatchell said: “Most lay Catholics are not homophobic – it’s the church leadership that’s the problem.

“Successive Catholic leaders have made inflammatory, bigoted statements about gay people which would not have been considered acceptable if they were made about people who are black or Jewish.

“I am really saddened that the Scottish cardinal and many of his priests and bishops endorse legal discrimination against Scots who are gay and lesbian.

“The Vatican and the Catholic hierarchy in Scotland are out of touch with most Catholic lay people in their position on contraception, fertility treatment and gay human rights.”

However Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church, hit back fiercely at Tatchell, calling his remarks “demented ravings”.

He said: “I challenge Peter Tatchell to give a single example where the Scottish Catholic Church has opposed legislation and won.

“Actually, I would argue that the influence of the Scottish Catholic Church is disproportionately UN-successful.

“Here are some examples in the last 10 years: In the section 28 debate, the Catholic Church opposed the legislation – and lost.

“In the 2003 Sexual Health Strategy debate, the Catholic Church opposed the legislation – and lost.

“In the debate over civil partnerships, the Catholic Church opposed the legislation – and lost.

“If he had even the most transient experience with the realities of Scottish politics, he would know this.

“Frankly, his assertions sound like demented ravings.”

• Full story at Deadline Scotland.

• Filed under Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Christian News Monitor, Scottish Episcopal Church, Sexuality.