Friday 25-07-2014 - 14:19

The Scottish government is to fly a rainbow flag from its headquarters for the duration of the Commonwealth Games.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond announced  on Wednesday the flag would fly from St Andrews House in Edinburgh, ahead of the launch of the games.
Tweeting a picture of the flag flying, he said: “Good to see the rainbow flag above St Andrews House – will fly throughout @Glasgow2014 as we celebrate diversity”.

He added: “Our sports minister opened Pride Glasgow today, which will have its message of equality and non-discrimination displayed, not just in the opening of one centre in Pride Glasgow, but the 70 events which are taking place as part of that initiative in Glasgow over the course of the Games.
“In St Andrew’s House we fly the rainbow flag, sometimes called the pride flag internationally, for the course of the games.
“So, we demonstrate our commitment and we provide an exemplar in terms of what we believe in.
“That’s what I think is the best way to state our commitment, it’s by what we do and how we act and what we display and what we advocate.”
Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “Alex Salmond’s statement of support for gay rights at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is a first.
“The leader of no other host government at either the Commonwealth or Olympic Games has ever made such a positive pro-gay equality statement and backed it up with concrete visible support by flying the gay rainbow flag from government headquarters for the duration of the Games.
“This is a pioneering, trail-blazing statement by the leader of the host nation.
“I applaud Alex Salmond for making such a strong, affirrmative commitment to the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people throughout the Commonwealth.
“For LGBTI communities in the 42 Commonwealth countries where homosexuality is still criminalised, this is a significant gesture of solidarity.”