In 2002, and again in 2006, the Scottish Executive commissioned research into attitudes to discrimination in Scotland. In 2002, the research found that 49% of people thought there was quite a lot, or a great deal, of prejudice against lesbians and gay men.

In 2002, 26% thought that lesbian and gay people are unsuitable to be primary school teachers; in 2006 the figure was 21%. In 2002, 18% said they would prefer an MSP who is not gay. In 2002, 41% thought that for men to have a sexual relationship is mostly or always wrong; by 2006 the figure was down to 30%.

In 2006, 50% said they would be unhappy if a close relative formed a long-term relationship with a transsexual person. 30% thought a transsexual person is unsuitable to be a primary school teacher.

Although the research shows an improvement between 2002 and 2006, there is still a large minority who hold discriminatory views.

On the more positive side, in 2002 43% of people felt that lesbians and gay men were suitable to be primary school teachers, and in 2006 48% thought that. In 2002, 41% felt that same-sex couples should have the right to marry, and by 2006 that had increased to 54%.

For full details, see the 2002 research report and the 2006 research report.

Research on the forms that discrimination takes in practice shows that hate crime is a common experience. The largest study of LGBT people in Scotland found that more than a third had been abused or threatened because they were LGBT, during a single 12 month period. 5% had been physically assaulted during a single year, and almost one quarter had been physically assaulted at some time, because they were LGBT. Other studies have shown even higher levels of attack. (More research on the situation of LGBT people in Scotland can be found here.)

It is clear that Scotland will not be a place where LGBT people can safely lead their lives in mutual respect with others until these levels of prejudice are addressed. In the Equality Network's view this needs leadership from the top. The Scottish Government, from the First Minister downwards, must make clear public commitments of support for equality for all, including explicit condemnation of prejudice against LGBT people. For example, we welcome the previous First Minister's statement in the Scottish Parliament on 24th March 2005, that all schools, including faith schools, must employ teachers without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Challenging Prejudice recommendations

On 13th February 2006, the Scottish Executive Equality Unit hosted a Thematic Seminar, to which all LGBT organisations in Scotland were invited, to look at how to address discriminatory attitudes towards LGBT people. At the seminar, Malcolm Chisholm MSP, the then Communities Minister, announced the establishment of an LGBT Hearts and Minds Agenda Group, to consider this in more detail, and to make specific recommendations for action. That group involved LGBT organisations from around Scotland, and met regularly in 2006 and 2007. In February 2008 the Group presented its report, Challenging Prejudice: changing attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland, to the Scottish Government.

The report includes recommendations for action by the Scottish Government, by LGBT organisations, by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and others. In November 2008, the Scottish Government published their mostly positive response to the recommendations. The Equality and Human Rights Commission have also made a positive response.

A co-ordinating group, including the Scottish Government Equality Unit, the Equality Network, Stonewall Scotland and LGBT Youth Scotland, has been established to encourage the implementation of the recommendations. The Equality Network believes that the recommendations in the Challenging Prejudice report are an excellent basis for reducing prejudice and discrimination against LGBT people.