Candidate believes gay marriage ‘possibly related’ to Covid
Ryan Nicolson
Independent candidate Peter Tait will stand on a controversial anti-gay marriage stance in the Scottish elections in May.
Mr Tait said that his position was related to his religious beliefs, and added: “I’m representing as best I can things that God would want me to represent”.
The retired mussel farmer said that he would be standing against gay marriage for the Shetland MSP seat, and said in his view “Covid is possibly related to it”.
Asked whether he understood there would likely be a backlash to his views, he replied: “I suppose there likely will.”
Mr Tait stood in the 2019 by-election and pledged to move the monarchy to Scotland if elected. He received 31 votes.
But he said this time around he “just wanted to make my case well, irrespective of votes”.
Scottish Labour candidate Martin Kerr said his party supported the rights of gay people to marry.
More in Friday’s edition of The Shetland Times.
John M Scott
“I might disagree with what you say and believe, but I will always defend your right to say it”. That is what true democracy is all about.
Andrew hawick
I agree, we should be free to say what we wish BUT there is no place in leadership in our society for a victorian era bigot.
Toby Sandison
While you’re busy defending bigots like Mr Tait, gay people and others facing oppression have to spend continuous energy defending their most basic rights. Do you think that creates a true democracy? Imagine all the time and effort that could be put to better use if LGBT advocacy groups were no longer needed. Do you not think the people involved have other political views they might like a chance to talk about?
What is actually being ‘defended’ if you stand up for this ghoul is entrenched privilege. It removes whole groups of people from a fair chance at debate because they are constantly expected to argue for their humanity.
Susan Williamson
Well said Toby. Nobody should have to spend their lives fighting for their basic human rights.
John M Scott
That’s absolutely right. Nobody should have to spend their lives fighting for their basic human rights, and that includes Peter Tait.
He has the right to express his views based on his religious beliefs, and not be lambasted by politically correct trolls and bullies.
Ms. Kerrie Meyer
I am founder of ShetlandLGBTQ.org.uk. It is obvious to any sane and educated person Mr. Tait is clearly an idiot by espousing such a nonsense notion. His ridiculous belief that Covid is a causation of gay marriage is not only a dangerous conspiracy theory, but could propagate and incite hate of gay people and surely contravenes the Equality Act 2010. So called ‘free speech’ that promotes such hate and division should NOT be given platform by either the press or the media. OFCOM only yesterday fined a TV religious channel £125,000 for promoting an unfounded Covid conspiracy theory. I’m sure the Electoral Commission could well take similar measures against Mr.Tait for promoting such a dangerous conspiracy theory and vile comments about gay marriage. In the meantime, Mr. Tait needs to climb back into his primeval hole.
Angela Kent
Please tell me this is an April Fool???
Stephen Howarth
Perhaps Mr Tait would explain more about the link he suggests between Covid-19 and gay marriage. What is that link, how did it come about, where and when did it originate? How are they “possibly” related? Or (to borrow a phrase from Bohemian Rhapsody) “Is this just fantasy?”
Charlene Fordyce
And you’re giving this guy airtime because….?! He obviously isn’t sane enough to be running water nevermind for a political party…….
Daniel Clark
Absolute drivelling idiocy!
James Homer
I don’t understand why the opening gambit of anyone looking to be elected to represent a body of people would say that they do not condone a section of that society. Why elect someone into this position of power who has no understanding of the society he represents?
Adrienne McClymont
Clearly, Mr Tait has a right to his ideas and I to mine.
So, show me the science for this link which you are making, Mr Tait.
I don’t live in Shetland though I have visited. I am of direct and strongly held Scottish descent. Our family now live in Australia where such views percolate up from the depths from time to time. We, like the UK, have legalised marriage of different races, creeds and beliefs. Here, we are strong upholders of marriage equality. Clearly, Mr Tate is not – his right but perhaps not the best choice for a strong and progressive island community.
St. John Hughes
“possibly related to it”. An interesting turn of phrase. I’m possibly related to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. But until I get indesputable evidence I don’t go shooting my mouth off.
Tell me sir, as a retired mussel farmer farmer, are you theologically qualified to state what you have just said? What, may I ask are your qualifications? I do believe that people higher up in the ecclesiastical orders than you have approved same sex marriage.
Are you claiming higher authority than them?
You have made a statement sir, produce your evidence.
I challenge you.
Or are you just bigoted?