SNP Equalities spokesperson, Angela Crawley MP, has welcomed the news that Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is set to make an historic statement of apology in the Scottish Parliament this week to those convicted under discriminatory laws against same-sex sexual activity.

The apology will be made on behalf of the Scottish Government for the treatment of gay and bisexual men under previous governments.

Subject to the agreement of the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister will make the Parliamentary statement on Tuesday, 7 November, to coincide with the publication of the Scottish “Turing Law”.

The Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Bill is set to provide automatic pardons to all those convicted and will enable people to have these discriminatory convictions removed from their records.

Angela Crawley MP, SNP spokesperson on Equalities, Women and Children, said:

“This is a hugely important step forward in Scotland’s history for LGBTI people.

“It is right that as a country we recognise – and apologise for – the appalling discrimination that gay and bisexual men faced under historic homophobic laws that wrongly criminalised same-sex sexual activity.

“These shameful laws were a blight on our society – they harmed and destroyed the lives of many LGBTI people, including those indirectly affected by their legacy.

“By apologising for the discriminatory treatment that gay and bisexual men faced, and by introducing this bill to provide automatic pardons to those convicted, the SNP government is righting an historic injustice and taking Scotland another step towards full equality for LGBTI people.”