Scottish Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, Tracy Gilbert, has today spoken about her personal journey on the fight for LGBT rights in the UK in the House of Commons.
Reflecting on the journey as a trade unionist, Gilbert references the first time she stepped foot in Westminster.
Tracy said: “As a lesbian woman I have spent my adult life fighting for LGBT rights. It was when fighting for our rights that I first visited this place. After many years of debate and setbacks, in June 1998 this House voted to equalise the age of consent between heterosexual and gay men.”
As an advocate for democracy and fair vote, Tracy discussed her second major campaign in LGBT rights during the time of the of Section 28 or 2A in Scotland. Gilbert referenced the private referendum held by Brian Souter, and other investments of the campaign including billboards on Ferry Road, an area Tracy and her family passed by often.
In the House of Commons, Tracy Gilbert MP said: As someone who worked in local government and who had a same sex partner with children, I saw the damage of Section 2A every single day. This act meant that teachers and youth workers couldn’t provide support to children with same sex partners or LGBT young people.
One of these billboards was on Ferry Road, one of the main bus routes through my home in my Edinburgh North and Leith constituency. I will never forget having to take David and Zoe on the bus to school passing this sign that said our family wasn’t a real family.”