In September 2014 Scotland will make the biggest choice for a generation.
Join us and an expert panel from the Better Together and Yes Scotland campaigns for an evening of discussion and debate on Scotland’s Future.

As well as an opportunity for LGBT people, friends and supporters to discuss the wider issues surrounding Scotland’s choice its also a chance to ensure that the implications for LGBT equality and human rights take centre stage in the discussions.

With just over a year to go until the referendum there are many questions still to pose and consider, and many minds not yet made up on how to vote. So whether you’re in favour of an independent Scotland or remaining as part of the United Kingdom, or have yet to decide, please join us for this important debate.

As well as panelists drawn from both sides of the debate there will be lots of opportunity for audience discussion and questions.

Date and Time: Thursday, September 5, 2013 from 7pm – 9pm
Venue: IET Glasgow: Teacher Building, 14 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4DB

The venue is fully accessible and refreshments will be provided. Instructions on how to reach the venue are available here.

The debate will be chaired by Dr Marsha Scott –  Marsha is a feminist bureaucrat, consultant, and researcher with particular interests in gender, violence against women, children’s rights, and international human rights mechanisms.  Since 2000, Marsha has completed a PhD at the University of Edinburgh on Scottish domestic abuse policy and now provides consultancy and research services and works for local government as Early Intervention Manager.   Marsha is chair of the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service’s Equality Advisory Group, sits on the Lord Advocate’s Advisory Group, is a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Men’s Violence against Women and Children, and is the United Kingdom Expert on the European Observatory on Violence against Women.

Speaking on behalf of Yes Scotland

Patrick Harvie MSP – Patrick was elected as a regional MSP for Glasgow in May 2003 and is co-convener of the Scottish Green Party. He is a a member of Holyrood’s committee examining the independence referendum bill. Before Parliament Patrick worked in the sexual health field, for an organisation called PHACE Scotland (now part of Terrence Higgins Trust) and had brief stints at a recycling charity, a phone line for teenagers, and the Inland Revenue.

Susan Stewart – Susan was former Director of Communications at Yes Scotland.  Previously she worked at Glasgow University where she had been Director of Corporate Communications for seven years. Before taking up that post in 2005, she was First Secretary, Scottish Affairs, at the British Embassy in Washington DC – the Scottish Government’s first dedicated diplomat in the US. Susan lives in Glasgow, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Scottish Parliament All Party Group on Further and Higher Education. She is a graduate of St Andrews University and Smith College, Massachusetts, where gained an MA in political philosophy. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Stewart McDonald – Stewart is the convener of ‘Out for Independence’, the LGBT wing of the Scottish National Party and has been coordinating the Yes LGBT campaign. A campaigner for equality within the SNP and beyond, Stewart believes that independence will make a positive difference to the lives of LGBT in Scotland and across the world.

Speaking on behalf of Better Together

William Bain MP – A Springburn native, Willie was elected Member of Parliament in a by-election on 12 November 2009. He was re-elected at the General Election on 6 May 2010. Willie attended Strathclyde University, graduating with a LLB in 1995. He completed a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1996, and moved into part-time lecturing and research at the University of Strathclyde Law School, working with the Law School’s Centre for Parliamentary and Legislative Studies on research projects on devolution. He completed a LLM by Research in Constitutional Law in 2004. Willie is a member of Unite, Progress, the Fabian Society, and Amnesty International.

Cllr Judith Fisher – Judith Fisher has been the Councillor for the Drumchapel/Anniesland Ward on Glasgow City Council since May 2012. Her primary policy interest is in Education, and she is determined to see Glasgow’s young people achieve a minimum of the Scottish average in terms of qualifications.  Originally from Aberdeen, Judith graduated from the University of Edinburgh before working in brand development, the social enterprise sector and in Higher Education.

Duncan Hothersall – Duncan helped to set up Pride Scotland and the Equality Network in the 1990s. He has been involved in many political campaigns including for the Scottish Parliament, an equal age of consent, the repeal of Section 28 and Civil Partnerships. He is currently chair of Edinburgh Southern Labour Party, and helps to run Scottish Fabians, a democratic think tank. In real life he works in educational IT. He lives with his husband Rod, and their chihuahua Rocco, in Edinburgh.