Contents:
THE GAELIC FOR “GAY”
Homosexual acts were formally punishable by ath Stland and England om the 1500s and remaed pal offenc until 1861. The 2015 BBC documentary “Comg Oot” scribed historil attus to homosexualy Stland: “For many years Stland jt did not do gay.
” Meek, thor of Queer Voic Post-War Stland, says homosexualy was somethg fai, relig stutns, the medil profsn and society at large all chose to ignore: “Growg up queer post-war Stland [was] sentially occupyg a social and sexual wilrns.
Jt like the rt of Stland, om at least the 1500s until 1980 the Gàidhealtachd was nstcted as a muny that admted no cultural or iologil room for gay inti. Most likely, practic now lled homosexual were occurrg all along, however, closeted silence at the risk of arrt, imprisonment, vlence, faial and social excln, or scerely anticipated damnatn.
THE GAY VOICE
Durg this stretch of history, the only historilly documented gay Gaelic speaker who has been intified is the plited figure of Major General Sir Hector Archibald MacDonald (1853-1903), reputed to be the Highlanr on the Camp Coffee label. The anti-gay posns of the largt Christian nomatns Stland have historilly shaped the treatment and experienc of LGBT+ people Sttish muni, although the Church of Stland has been gradually changg s stance. Dpe the ncerted efforts of Stonewall Stland and other groups, homophobic abe is still a fact of life for many LGBT people Stland acrdg to The Sttish LGBT Equaly Report of 2015.