The Commonwealth Games could be used as a platform to inspire some participating countries to address their record of criminalising their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, the Sports Minister has said.
Glasgow 2014 offers an opportunity to share Scotland's progress in accepting its LGBT community, and engage constructively to promote acceptance throughout the Commonwealth, Shona Robison told MSPs at Holyrood.
Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "The minister will be aware of the interests and concerns of the LGBT community in Glasgow both in organising events such as Pride House, which I gather the Government has given some support to, but also the need to raise, in as constructive a spirit as possible, the record of Commonwealth countries in criminalising their LGBT communities. Will the minister meet to discuss how these interests and concerns can be given the most constructive possible expression during the Games?"
Ms Robison said: "I'm certainly happy to meet the member to discuss these matters.
"There is an opportunity to promote a positive message about the journey that Scotland has been on and the progress that has been made, although I acknowledge that there is progress yet to be made.
"If that can be an inspiration to others, then that will be a very positive way of sharing our experience with others who are perhaps in different stages on their journey on these matters."
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