Exerpts from a QLGF Spring Gathering 2011 Report

QLGF, to those of you who assiduously digest every word of the newsletter (and I admit, I’m one of them) will know that the Fellowship has been in questioning mode for a while. Questioning its role, its future, its demographic and its age range. All these questions, and others, came up during the course of the weekend.

To talk of the numbers – 10 of us were there for the three days and 8 came for the Saturday. The majority of the residents had travelled from England. We were also a bit top-heavy in the age stakes!! However, to concentrate on the numbers is, I feel, a disservice to those who did attend, and also to doubt the way the Spirit operates mysteriously with a sometimes small number (and in terms of its seed sown, who are we to doubt the efficacy of this process!!)

One member came from the far north of Scotland (Durness/ Cape Wrath) and vied for most miles travelled with the probably furthest-flung English member who came from Wiltshire. The centrality of Dunblane for people from most of Scotland was a distinct advantage for day participants – people were able to come from Edinburgh, East Lothian, and West Scotland, with ease: our Highland Friends travelled by car from Inverness, a two and a half hour journey: and the two Friends from the South-West of Scotland were able to hook up and share a journey by train and car which didn’t mean getting up at the crack of dawn. Friends were able to share meals, tea and fellowship and a variety of views....

The Friday evening began with a meal and a relaxed “getting to know you” session, followed by the Ministry of Real Ale and Malt of the Month for some of our less abstemious (or tired!) members, at the very convenient Tappit Hen.
The main meat of the Saturday programme was a talk by Mark Bitel of the Edinburgh group, who gave us an interesting overview of the different stages of progress towards marriage equality in England & Wales and Scotland. Mark talked mainly from the Scottish perspective and made reference to public attitude surveys and the comparative liberality of the Scottish public and the change in attitudes towards gay marriage, particularly in the young. He also gave an update on the interesting coalition of faith groups (Unitarians, Liberal Jews, MCC and Quakers), who marched under a united banner “Faith Communities Support Same Sex Marriage” at Pride Scotia 2010 and are now pushing for religious ceremonies for both civil partnerships and same-sex marriages. The ensuing discussion was wide-ranging and thought-provoking.

After this, two speakers from Waverley Care who are based in the Highlands told us how very different life is for LGBT people in that area, where they can feel, and be, very remote and isolated. Ian gave a short introduction to the work of Waverley Care, which aims to combat prejudice and ignorance and primarily to educate about safe sex and HIV/AIDS. It has a supportive role in caring for people with HIV/AIDS and also seeks to combat the isolation felt by many LGBT people living in the Highlands....