While, in a secular society, political decisions should be based on evidence, reason, and the best interests of the people, rather than personal beliefs or religious affiliations; when a candidate makes comments that they’d have voted against a progressive law to bring about marriage equality e.g. as a result of their faith, it is perfectly legitimate for the electorate to express concerns about how they will expect to best serve the interests of the people of Scotland when admittedly their faith dictates their position on wider policy.

The First Minister is expected to serve for everyone and they not only craft the priorities of their government but sets the policy and direction of travel. LGBT+ people who are rightly anxious are being unfairly dismissed as antireligionists.

You cannot simultaneously hold that your faith is so important to you that it guides the way you see and interact with the world, while also claiming your policies and priorities as First Minister wouldn’t be, in any way affected.

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