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6
A Secular Scotland
Did Scotland really bring
the Scottish Enlightenment
to the world; have
five universities to England’s two
and become the most literate
citizens in Europe by the eighteenth
century? If so, shouldn’t
we be welcoming independence
with a bit more gusto instead of
letting ourselves be admonished
like naughty children asking for
something we don’t deserve.
‘Aggressive’ CyberNats sharing
their opinions after one too
many; shameless ‘opportunists’
trying to hoist our flag behind
Andy Murray after his win at
Wimbledon or ‘subsidy junkies’
and ‘squanderers’ lavishly doling
out free prescriptions and care
for the elderly. (“Whilst I’m expected
to pay for it all”, a rather
indignant English friend reminded
me between mouthfuls
of Premier cru on her clipped
lawn bordered by red Geraniums,
white Bleeding Hearts and
blue Lobelia). I’m tired of condescending
men in suits who can’t
find their own way round a noseclipper
telling me what’s best for
Scotland. Time we saw some
women nailing their name to the
mast. I’d like to see a Susan
Boyle moment, when on
Britain’s Got Talent she blew
everyone away with a mezzo soprano
voice leaving Simon Cowell’s
fingers still hovering over
the reject button.
Women have been hidden
amongst the radicals and freethinkers
of the 17-or-so secular
societies across Scotland in the
19th century. The societies,
some a part of the Scottish Secular
Union were joined by Owenites,
the followers of Robert
Owen, forging a peculiarly socialist
nuance to Scottish secularism.
Keir Hardie’s parents
regularly attended the Glasgow
Secular Society before Kier
found God and helped revive a
social conscience within Christianity.
Today, if they’re not just getting
on with life, secularists are more
likely to be found on Facebook
and Twitter. In recent surveys on
Secular Scotland, up to 85 per-
cent voted in support of independence.
When the Scottish
Secular Society (SSS) announced
it was backing the majority
of its members coming out
in support of independence, the
press ignored our Chair, Spencer
Fildes to focus on what the
churches thought about a secular
Scotland! Since the Kirk hung
a 20-year-old Edinburgh student
for blasphemy in 1697, the Scottish
media have always been in
thrall to the crucifix and crozier,
seeking out the advice of clerics
on moral matters until only a
few years ago, obediently
adding quotes from Kirk and
Catholic spokesmen under every
story requiring a moral angle.
Today, the Kirk musters just 900
people to attend their debates
on independence before another
press release goes out
with several press stories following.
Soon after, the Kirk Moderator
squeals he has had people
urging the Kirk to say if they’re
for or against independence and
it makes headline news on Reporting
Scotland! (Compare that
to when the SSS celebrated
30,000 signatures demanding
by Garry Otton
the release of Scotsman
Mohammad Asghar from a
Pakistan prison facing
charges of blasphemy and
no newspaper printed the
story). What do the media
think we are all downloading
onto our iPod shuffles?
Hymns? Do the Church really
have more customers
than Homebase? Had the
SSS been asked, they
would have said how delighted
we were to be so
tantalisingly close to walking
away with the Holy
Grail of secularism in Sep
with just one tick of that
‘YES’ box shaking off 26
unelected clerics in the
highest legislature of the
land. As semi-theocracies
go, the UK gives Iran a
good run for their money.
Scotland should have a
secular constitution
guaranteeing freedom of religion
and freedom from it.
As Secular Scottish Society constitutionalist
and research director
of the Constitutional
Commission, Elliot Bulmer said:
“The electoral system for the
House of Commons is unrepresentative,
the composition of
the House of Lords is indefensible,
the powers of the Crown are
excessive, secretive and unaccountable,
rights are fragile, and
privileges rife.”
Mr Bulmer added: “There is a direct
connection between allowing
rulers to make up the rules as
they go along and the failure of
the UK state to serve the common
good. The banking crisis,
the expenses scandal, phone
hacking, illegal surveillance, persistent
unemployment and
wage cuts, rising inequality, corporate
lobbying, and the destruction
of public infrastructure
and services – all point to a state
that has fallen into the hands of
an unchecked oligarchy, bound
by its own self-interest.”
In an independent Scotland,
our State Broadcaster will no
longer be able to throw a
switch at Broadcasting House
at half-six so we can ‘see
what’s happening in your region’,
as the UK split up like
excited children so Jackie Bird
can report with a rictus grin
an egg-and-spoon race in
Newton Mearns. We’ll go our
own way while England,
Wales and its mad religious
aunt in the attic can make
their own news. I hope that if
we do still find our news interrupted
by patronising
‘Thought for the Days’ in a
modern Scotland, it is offered
on the grounds of merit and
not simply because you are
religious.
And what of the head of the
Church of England, Elizabeth
the Second, by the Grace of
God, of Great Britain, Ireland
and the British Dominions beyond
the Seas Queen, Defender
of the Faith? She will
go on showing off her colourful
twin-sets and eye-catching
millinery in a titular role
just as she does throughout
all of her Commonwealth
countries. Just not at our expense.
And one more thing: Saying
YES to independence is not
voting to put the SNP in
power: It is empowering us to
ensure we can vote for a party
that will deliver secular fairness,
freedom and equality. I
welcome the challenge of a
new Scottish Enlightenment,
and I’m sure too, so would our
radical
freethinking
forefathers.
Garry Otton is founder of the
Scottish Secular Society and
author of ‘Religious Fascism:
The Repeal of Section 28’.
Well my loves, what a month it
has been! And the next few
weeks promise to be the
busiest and most colourful Glasgow has
ever seen! Let the
games begin and
may the odds be
ever in your favour!
Pride Weekend
began with a human
rights conference
organised by the
Equality Network
and Pride House,
with representatives
from Commonwealth
nations
where being gay is
illegal, Peter Tatchell
and Scottish counterparts
discussed
and debated what can be done to advance
the cause of LGBT rights amongst
those nations.
It rained and rained and rained, however
that did not dampen the spirits of the
crowd who turned out to enjoy our Pride
in Glasgow. Alongside myself and Andrew
Agnew, the Krankies had everyone
rolling about in laughter, X factor stars
Amelia Lily, Marcus Collins and especially
Lucy Spraggan kept the crowd’s spirits
high throughout the day! I’m sure
Bee Fiarse Beaujambes
glasgow@scotsgay.co.uk
Andi Watson
aberdeen@scotsgay.co.uk
Summer 2014 in this wee corner of
Scotland and we know it’s here
because the rain is getting
warmer. This month we delve into GMH,
hear about the success that was Dorothy
Does Oz and look ahead to the next
month on the ‘deen scene.
Katie’s Bar had an influx of lady lovers
all hot under the collar looking for refreshment
after Lucy’s set. Katie’s also
had one of the Pussycat Dolls spinning
the decks and
tickling the fancies
of its customers
this
month.
U n d e r g r o u n d
Bar in partnership
with The
Gallery and The
Court Bar, held
the final of Pride
Idol and there
were two winners
who went forward
to the
cabaret stage at
Pride. There has
definitely been a greater sense of community
and partnership between all the
bars and clubs this year, which is fantastic.
Menergy @ AXM had the busiest night
ever with hurricane Bianca Del Rio rolling
into to town - it was a very hot and
sweaty affair but Miss Del Rio blew the
crowd away! With warm up performances
from the delicious Tom Harlow and
the fabulous Buffalo Girls! Speakeasy
also had a very hot and sweaty affair but
Gay Men’s Health in parts of Scotland
have had funding completely or partially
cut by the NHS trusts in those areas but
I am assured that all services within
Grampian are running as normal where
Deejay, Colin, Aidan and the volunteers
are doing an amazing job of making gay
and bisexual
guys in the
region aware
of services
that are available
as well
as handing
out free condoms
at various
venues
and locations
around the
region. The
team were
due to be out
and about in
Elgin on 26th
Jul and
Lossiemouth
on 28th Jul
with testing
Glasgow
glaschu
of a different type, porn
star Scott Hunter was
making all the boys weak
at the knees when he
graced Glasgow with his
rugged handsomeness
and bulging talents!
I would also like to take a
moment to thank everyone
for their support and
encouragement around
STV Glasgow’s decision
to decline an invitation
for me to appear on their
chat show the evening
before pride as ‘having a drag queen
wouldn’t be appropriate for children’ I
cannot tell how it felt to know the community
had my back. It is a reminder of
the work we still have to do to shake off
the remnants of the past. So thank you!
Until next month, enjoy the Commonwealth
Games, fly your rainbow flags, be
proud, be loud and above all… get out
and enjoy yourself! Glasgow’s scene has
everything on offer: so go get yours!
Aberdeen
obar dheadhainn
and outreach services available on those
days, 8th Aug will see them at Cheerz
Bar for a fabulous drag game show and
sexual health education event.
GMH are also on the look out for guys to
take part in a photo shoot for an online
campaign with the theme “You are real,
You are beautiful”. They are looking for
guys of all shapes and sizes as this is not
a campaign using the usual stereotypical
look that most magazines and online resources
use. If you are interested in taking
part or to find out more about the
services available at 246 George Street
and via outreach you can call them on
Aberdeen (01224) 930355 or E-mail:
grampian@gmh.org.uk
I had the absolute pleasure of going
along to see Dorothy Does Oz at Cheerz
Nightclub the other week and it was
amazingly performed by a very polished
and preened cast including all of your
favourite local drag artistes and scene
entertainers. It was laugh a minute from
start to finish, so a huge thank you to
Brian for the amazing script and the rest
of the cast for bringing it to life. I for sure
look forward to your next show.
Cheerz Bar has so much entertainment
coming your way too including Jo
O’Meara on 8th Aug and lots more
planned but don’t forgot the fabulous
resident entertainment team with so
many talented people including the
many faces and wigs of Miss Romy, the
man that can hit all the notes Aiden
Sutherland, Double Trouble Miss Cherry
Bakewell and Scarlet Diamonte Plus the
DJ’s playing all your tunes: Steve Motion,
Craig Wren, Mark Davidson and Kevin
Thorburn. Sorry if I have forgotten anyone!
Keep up to date with events and
happenings at Cheerz via facebook and
twitter @cheerztweet
That’s a wrap for this month, if you have
any news or events that you want publicised
drop me an E-mail or a tweet at
@andiabz