What is it about?
This article examines the role of Scottish churches in the homosexual rights movement in Scotland during the 1960s and 70s. Despite the Church of Scotland being vehemently opposed to homosexual law reform during the 1950s and 60s, there was a significant shift during the early 1970s, and the church actively supported the work of the Scottish Minorities Group (SMG). The Roman Catholic Church was to offer significant support to the SMG during the 1970s, and this article explores just how influential churches were in the homosexual law reform movement in Scotland.
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Why is it important?
The article is important as it queries popular understandings of the attitudes of the main Scottish churches to homosexual law reform.
Perspectives
I was surprised when undertaking this research to discover just how closely the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Roman Catholic Church worked with the Scottish Minorities Group (Scotland's foremost homosexual law reform organisation in the 1970s). Despite public perceptions, both churches were keen to offer pastoral support to the organisation and press for change in attitudes towards same-sex love, in both legal and religious frameworks.
Dr Jeffrey M Meek
University of Glasgow
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This page is a summary of: Scottish Churches, Morality and Homosexual Law Reform, 1957–1980, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, June 2015, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s0022046914001250.
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