It was through the efforts of the Society's Public Affairs Sub-committee (PA S/c) activity and others, which led in 2005 to the right to conduct legal marriage.  The Leader of the Sub-committee is a member of the Board of Trustees. The leader works with other volunteer members whose various skills can be brought to bear on matters affecting life in Scotland.  It addresses unequal privilege and the influence of non-democratic NGO's and others, which use such in the furtherance of their objectives to the disadvantage of others. In particular, it addresses the right of freedom of and from religion, the discrimination that applies in some education appointments, the state funding of religious schools, the disproportionate level of religious content in the public media and the right to self-determination, amongst others.

The Society is also a stakeholder in the new Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) which champions the six strands of age, gender, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation and religion/belief.  That provides many opportunities to address inequality where it thrives.  The Society is consulted as of right in monitoring the passage of many new legislative proposals by the Scottish Government that relate to aspects of Human Rights, and it works closely with other Sub-committees in the furtherance of the achievement of their objectives.  The PA S/c keeps the BOT and the Society fully informed of any developments relating to Humanism and its core objectives, by close liaison with other National, European and World-wide humanist organisations, and others, such as the EU Commission and the UN.   It will also inform of any changes in the Local Authority body politic or any other Civic matter that might affect the lives of Scottish people.  The current overall objective of the Society is the achievement of a secular State.

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