Wishart celebrates Pride Month 2025

Shetland MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat Beatrice Wishart is marking Pride Month 2025 by reaffirming her commitment to championing equality for all LGBT+ people.

Pride Month is celebrated internationally every June, creating a safe space for LGBT+ people and allies to celebrate progress that has been made in advancing equal rights. At the same time, Pride is an opportunity to put the spotlight on inequalities facing LGBT+ people, protest against discrimination and call for equality.

LGBT+ youth are more likely to suffer from poor mental health than their heterosexual counterparts, with trans students five times more likely to be bullied daily. Latest hate crime statistics for Scotland show nearly a quarter of hate crimes were recorded as having a sexual orientation aggravator. Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for LGBT+ equality and for an end to the harmful practice of sexual orientation and gender identity conversion therapy.

Ms Wishart said: 

“Around the globe LGBT+ people face oppression and discrimination simply because of who they are. In over 60 countries around the world, homosexuality is still criminalised. 

“From poorer health outcomes to higher rates of homelessness, inequalities for LGBT+ people persist in the UK.

“All LGBT+ people should be free to be who they are, in a society that celebrates diversity and is committed to equality and justice. 

“I look forward to a world where nobody is disadvantaged because of their identity.”

ENDS