JOHN Swinney has said he will “of course” meet with an SNP LGBT+ group which raised concerns over the appointment of Kate Forbes as Deputy First Minister.
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch was officially confirmed as Swinney’s deputy on Thursday, despite the Scottish Greens voting against her appointment.
In a statement released on social media, Out for Independence (OFI) said members “share those concerns” of those within the LGBT+ community regarding Forbes’s appointment.
First Minister @JohnSwinney says he’ll meet with @OutForIndy to discuss concerns about Kate Forbes appointment as Deputy First Minister
— Alan Smith (@Political_AlanS) May 10, 2024
He says the Scottish Government is committed to a ban on conversion therapy and is currently looking at the consultation responses pic.twitter.com/eiWK6S6hRF
Speaking in Holyrood, Green MSP Ross Greer raised the issue saying he could not vote for someone “who thinks there’s something wrong with me, not because of any views I hold, but simply because of who I am”.
Forbes previously said she would have voted against gay marriage were she an MSP at the time.
OFI said it was “aware of the real concerns within the LGBTQ+ community at the appointment of Kate Forbes given the views she has previously presented."
READ MORE: Sky News: John Swinney says Scottish independence can be delivered within five years
“At a time when the LGBTQ+ community - especially trans people – face unprecedented violence and attacks both within and outwith politics, more needs to be done to reassure the community – and to assure that the SNP’s legacy of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights is not undermined," the statement read.
It added that the group would be seeking to “speak directly” with Swinney and the First Minister has since confirmed he will be happy to do so.
He told reporters: “I will of course meet with the Out for Independence group within the SNP, I’ll be delighted to do so. They’re friends and colleagues and I respect them enormously.
“I want to make absolutely crystal clear as someone who voted for equal marriage in the Scottish Parliament, who was the education secretary that introduced LGBT inclusive education, that the rights of LGBT people within our society will be protected under my government.
“I voted for these rights, I’ll protect them and I’ll enhance those rights.”
He also stressed that the Scottish Government remains committed to a conversion therapy ban and that it is still reviewing responses to a consultation on the issue.
Writing on social media, OFI said: "The FM's team reached out to us last night and we will be meeting this evening.
"We are reassured by his swift response to our concerns and those raised by the wider community, and we look forward to being able to share the results of the meeting with our members."
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