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New hate crimes bill proposition to Scottish parliament
Stonewall Scotland
New hate crimes bill proposed to Scottish parliament
"LGBT people and supporters have been urged to contact their MSPs to make their voices known in support of the bill."
Proposed by Patrick Harvie, a Scottish Green MSP, The Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) would ensure tougher sentences were imposed on offences motivated by the victim’s disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. If successful the law should be passed by 2009.
Tomorrow sees the Scottish government unveil its legislative programme for the Parliamentary session, which won’t include Mr. Harvie’s proposal. However Harvie revealed to PinkNews.co.uk that he is being given the full support of the SNP, stating:
"The government programme will not include it because they are supporting me to take it forward… The SNP has given me support in the form of a bill team, civil servants who assist with the drafting of the bill."
LGBT people and supporters have been urged to contact their MSPs to make their voices known in support of the bill.
Charities and support groups that have already signed up to the campaign include Stonewall Scotland, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Capability Scotland, Amnesty International, the Equality Network, SAMH, LGBT Youth Scotland, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and HIV Scotland.
