Scots Lawyer and LGBT+ Rights Campaigner Dies
May 7, 2020Life-long LGBT+ rights campaigner and Scots lawyer, Mr Derek Ogg QC, was found dead in his home earlier this week. Mr Ogg was a prominent campaigner for LGBT+ rights in Scotland and was appointed Crown Counsel in 2007 for his work. He prominently fought for the 2018 law pardoning gay and bi men convicted of sexual offences which are no longer illegal.
Ogg started campaigning for gay rights in the 1970s, when he joined Scotland’s first gay rights organisation the Scottish Minorities Group (SMG), as ‘Glasgow Times’ report.
Leading charity for LGBTI equality and rights Equality Network paid tribute to the “passionate and principled advocate for equality and justice” writing on Twitter: “We owe Derek so much and send out heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
“While pursuing his highly successful career as an advocate, Derek continued to work for equality, and was an invaluable adviser to the Equality Network, advising on equalising the age of consent and removing other discrimination from the law.”
Others who paid tribute to Mr Ogg are First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who said she would miss his “wisdom and good sense” after the “dreadful” news of his death emerged.
She wrote: “This is dreadful news. Derek was a brilliant advocate and a truly lovely man. He will be deeply missed by so many in his profession and beyond. It was always a pleasure for me to hear from him on issues he felt strongly about.”
Glasgow Lawyer Aamer Anwar also paid tribute calling Ogg a “beautiful man of deep intellect, humility and humour”. He said: “So sad to hear of the passing of Derek Ogg QC, beautiful man of deep intellect, humility and humour, never forgot his kindness in dark times.” He added that the 65-year-old was “a giant who made a lasting contribution to our justice system and stood up for gay rights when it would've been easier for him to stay quiet.”
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