Mhairi Black accuses Kate Forbes of ‘intolerance’ and ‘alienating swathes of the population’ over same sex marriage opposition

SNP deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black has accused Kate Forbes of “intolerance” over her opposition to same-sex marriage.

Leadership hopeful Forbes has come under criticism after saying she “believes marriage is between a man and a woman”. She also said she would have voted against gay marriage if she had been an MSP in 2014.

Black, who got married to her wife Katie last year, said that she had been “incredibly hurt” by Forbes’ comments. She said that using religion to restrict the choice of others was “showing intolerance”.

This comes just hours after Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan were confirmed as the three candidates for the SNP leadership election.

Black tweeted on Friday afternoon: “A lot of people have asked me my views of the leadership contest. Truthfully, I have been incredibly hurt so far. Hurt originating with the statements Kate Forbes has made and since stood by. I, like most people in Scotland, could not care less about someone’s religion.

“If your faith says you cannot drink alcohol, then don’t. If your religion says you cannot enter same sex marriage, then don’t. If your religion does not allow for abortion, then do not have one.

“However, the moment you use your religion to justify voting against me having access to any of the above, then it is you who is showing intolerance.

“What you practice in your own time, and how you subscribe to live your life is your business, but as a lawmaker, if you choose to allow your religion to try and deny me my basic human rights, then *you* make it my business.”

Black also hit out at those who have said that Forbes is being discriminated against because of her religion.

Her tweets continued: “The idea that Kate is being ‘persecuted’, or that there is a ‘witch hunt’ or ‘unionist media plot’ against her is utterly fanciful at best and a dangerous conspiracy theory at worst.

“Holding candidates to account, and scrutinising what they have said themselves – on camera, voluntarily, as a pitch to be the next FM of Scotland – is not abuse.

“Had a candidate said they do not believe in racially mixed marriages we would rightly be horrified – so why is my marriage still considered fair game?”

Black added that she could not trust a leader who does not believe that she and her wife should legally be able to marry.

She said: “How I, and others, are expected to have faith in a leader who unashamedly and publicly believes the love between my wife and I should not be legally recognised, is beyond me.

“Where there has since been shallow calls for, and promises of tolerance made, I find myself thinking of what Humza has said and understood for years: I don’t want to be tolerated, I want to be equal.

“Kate hasn’t just jeopardised a lot of activists and members, she has alienated swathes of the population before she’s even started. We need, and should expect, better judgement, communication, and leadership skills if we are to ever convince others of independence.”

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