I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed anyone publicly fall from grace as fast as Kate Forbes and I can’t help but think she deserves every ounce of criticism coming her way.
I knew very little about the Finance Minister who quickly became the front-runner to replace Nicola Sturgeon following her resignation.
No sooner was the rising star named the bookies’ favourite to become leader of the SNP, she was trending on social media for all the wrong reasons.
She said she would have voted against a 2014 law that legalised same-sex marriage, then claimed children being born outside marriage was “wrong”.
I don’t even know where to start.
All I can think of are the many beautiful gay weddings I’ve attended in my life and I can’t believe that anyone would oppose them. As for having babies out of wedlock – it’s 2023.
If these are values that Kate holds dear, that’s up to her but don’t judge other people and, yes, saying it’s wrong IS a judgement.
Before anyone tries to accuse me of discriminating against her because of her religion (she’s a member of the Free Church of Scotland), I can tell you I’m also a Christian and in my version of Christianity everyone is equal.
We don’t discriminate.
Kate’s interpretation of marriage as an institution strictly between a man and a woman is nonsense.
Church of Scotland ministers and deacons can marry same-sex couples and millions of Christians all over the world support equal marriage, including Deputy First Minster John Swinney, who is also a man of “deep religious faith” and said he “profoundly disagrees” with Forbes.
I don’t like anti-LGBTQ+ views being hidden behind religion and scripture and, while I’m not going to start quoting Leviticus word for word, if you believe homosexuality is an “abomination”, then you must also believe slavery is OK and that women should be subordinate.
You can’t pick and choose which parts of scripture can be interpreted in different ways to suit yourself.
I’m angry for the gay community who are still facing this kind of prejudice.
Kate has delegitimised the marriages of thousands in Scotland and caused a lot of hurt. I’m shocked any 32-year-old in this day and age believes in this but it’s a free country and she can believe anything she wants – that’s her right.
But others have the right to challenge and disagree with what she’s saying.
And if you are going to lead, your values matter. If you believe being gay is a sin, you have no place being first minister of this country.
It’s the highest office in Scotland. I don’t want to see it run by the morality police, I don’t care what religion you are, but any leader must treat and view all citizens equally.
From what she’s said, I think I know what to expect on issues like conversion therapy, trans rights and abortion – topics that are extremely divisive and can win or lose swathes of party members.
Since Kate’s faith seems such an intrinsic part of who she is and how she thinks, it does affect the way she will run the party.
But I appreciate her honesty and I’m glad she said what she truly thinks. It means we can clearly see who she is.
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