Call For Councillor To Quit Over 'Parading Queers' Comments

Scotland - A Councillor who described gay men and lesbians as, "wrong-doers" was under pressure to resign last night.
Duncan Maclean, an independent West Lothian councillor, drew condemnation for his remarks and asking why "queers have to parade about in public".
Mr Maclean made the comments after unsuccessfully trying to stop same-sex marriage ceremonies from going ahead in register offices and other venues in his council borough.
Cllr Maclean had stated: "It's political correctness gone mad. As the Bible teaches, 'Wrong-doers will not inherit the kingdom of God', and this includes lesbians and gays.
"If these people want to enter into a formal commitment, why don't they go to a lawyer and get them to sign a formal legal document? Why do these queers have to parade about in public?"
MSP Margaret Mitchell, the Conservative justice spokeswoman, said the comments were offensive.
She said: "This is not acceptable and it is a sad reflection on Cllr Maclean. Everyone has the right to their opinion - that is the true test of a democratic society after all - but they cannot use such offensive and abusive language. He needs to join the 21st century and apologise."
MSP Christine Grahame, of the SNP, said the remarks were out of touch with a modern Scotland. She added: "These comments show that Mr Maclean clearly does not have a grip on reality. These prehistoric views should have been left behind in the Stone Age and have no place in today's Scottish society."
Equality campaigners and gay rights groups also said they were stunned by his views.
A spokesman for Outrage! said: "This councillor needs to get his act together. The world has changed.
"He's not the best person to be representing people in his constituency. He would be doing everyone a favour if he stepped down."
Partners Robin Scott and Jean Philippe are co-owners of the Claremont Bar in East Claremont Street, Edinburgh, and want to open up their pub as one of the first venues in Edinburgh to hold gay ceremonies this December. Mr Scott said: "The Scottish Executive is in favour of gay ceremonies and so is the Registrar General, so I think this councillor is in the minority."
The Armadale West councillor failed to find a seconder for his motion against the proposals on Monday afternoon, when councillors agreed to the holding of gay marriage ceremonies at register offices and approved venues.
He also said fellow West Lothian councillors should "hang their heads in shame" after giving the green light to gay marriage ceremonies.
From 5 December, two people of the same sex will be allowed to enter into a civil partnership by going through a registration procedure similar to that for a civil marriage.
The Civil Partnership Act states that local authorities only need to provide a registration facility, but West Lothian has now gone a stage further in allowing a form of ceremony to be held.
A West Lothian Council spokeswoman stressed the councillor's views did not represent those of the council.
She said: "Cllr Maclean is the elected member for Armadale West and is an independent and as such has his own views. However these are not the views of West Lothian Council."
Last night Cllr Maclean stood by his remarks and said he would not apologise for them.
He said: "I don't think I am offending any of my constituents as none of my voters are gay."
from The Scotsman