Don’t leave religion to the bigots opposed to LGBTI inclusion, urges Church of Scotland minister backing schools campaign

Jan 6, 2017 by Jill

by Kirsteen Paterson, The National:

THE faith agenda must be “seized back from the bigots and the haters” opposed to LGBTI inclusion, a Church of Scotland minister has said.

Highland minister Reverend John Nugent spoke out as he declared his support for the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign, which is pressing for Scottish schools to overhaul the classroom approach to LGBT issues and wipe out bullying based on sexuality and gender identity.

Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar and actress Emma Thompson are amongst high-profile backers.

Now Nugent, who leads worship at the Saint Fergus Church in Wick, has become the latest faith leader to come out in support of the push.

Claiming the current approach breaches children’s rights and that religious groups should embrace young LGBTI people, Nugent said failure to act leaves religion to “bigots”.

He said: “Inclusivity lies in the DNA of faith. The founders of the great faith traditions left the door open to all, and it is this ancient path that must be reclaimed and promoted; the faith agenda then being seized back from the bigots and the haters.”

A recent report by TIE found 90 per cent of LGBT Scots experience homophobia while at school, with persecution leading more than one quarter to attempt to take their own lives.

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