February 27, 2009
Growing support for gay marriage in Ireland
Six out of 10 people in Ireland believe that denying marriage to lesbians and gay men is a form of discrimination, according to a recent survey.
MarriagEquality surveyed 1000 people in Ireland and found that the clear majority of people are in favour of full rights for LGBT people.
81% of Irish believe that everyone should receive equal treatment from the state regardless of sexuality, and 62% of the poll said they would vote in favour of same-sex marriage in a referendum.
“The report is the first of its kind to reveal such unequivocal support for lesbians and gay men having the choice to marry in a civil ceremony in Ireland,” said Grainne Healy, Co-Chair of MarriagEquality.
“The findings support MarriagEquality in our search for access, not to religious marriage, but to access marriage in a civil ceremony which will result in equal rights and recognition of our relationships and our children.”
Moninne Griffith, Coordinator, MarriagEquality commented, “The Government claim that Irish people aren’t ready for lesbians and gay men to have the choice to marry. They also claim that we’d need to have a referendum to change to constitution to allow same sex couples marry and that this would be divisive. We do not believe a referendum is necessary, however, if the courts found that one was necessary, the research shows that 62%, or six out of ten people would vote yes in favour of same-sex marriage if a referendum on the issue was held.”
She continued, “The Irish Constitution is a living breathing document and is therefore open to interpretation by the Irish Courts to reflect changes and progress in Irish Society. As such, MarriagEquality believe that it is within the Government’s power to legislate now for access to civil marriage for same-sex couples.
“Until the Government acts, Ireland is infringing upon the rights of a section of Irish society. There is no time to waste, equality for all people on this Island must become a reality.”
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May 9, 2012
hi there, I cant believe hiow backward a nation we seem to be. The gay community is denied the right to marry, as the so called government think its against the constitution. The Constitution is an old document and as such needs to be updated for the times we live in.
The gay community deserves the right to have there relationships recognised by law in Ireland. Ger
Sir/Madam
I am writing to try and explain to you why same sex marriage is wrong and in the hope that my argument may at least encourage you to have another debate about your party’s open support of it. I am a retired art teacher of art who played in rock bands for over two decades so I probably fall into the ‘assumed liberal’ category.
I totally support civil unions between homosexuals. They should have the right to pass their property and monies onto their partners when they die.
Marriage? No.
Here are my reasons:
1. The institution of marriage was created primarily so that babies could be created and come into a mother-father setup. Of course it isn’t perfect and single women will continue to bear children and rear them either alone or with a boyfriend/partner.
2. Why would two men want to get married when they cannot produce babies? As a stepping-stone to legal adoption only. Otherwise, civil union should be enough for them.
3. Neither can two lesbians (married or not) create a baby. Even with clever use of semantics, ‘their’ child is either someone else’s or was carried by only ONE of them who was impregnated by male sperm. The other one is nothing to the child (apart from mother’s lover) no matter how often they say the “two mummies” mantra.
4. Not enough research has been done on children who have been raised by same-sex couples. Who knows who or what they will blame if they turn out to be (as a percentage no doubt will) criminals – “oh the boy had a very strange childhood – he was raised by two men your honour and never knew who his mother is.”
5. The same-sex marriage idea is being pushed by a minority group. Why can’t other minority groups look for marriage too? Brother and sister? Son and widowed mother? Uncle and 14-year old niece? “Oh don’t be ridiculous” I hear! It’s NOT ridiculous. There are small minority groups out there who would accept/support those unions – like it or not. Why give in to the most vociferous minority group?
6. And another “Oh don’t be ridiculous” argument: What if . . . same-sex marriage became even more fashionable than it already is? What if, in 100 years time, more than 50% of Irish people decided that they wanted to marry someone of the same sex? What if, in 500 years time, more than 90% of Irish people decided that they wanted to marry someone of the same sex? You know what – total chaos. No children. No schools. No students. No new graduates. No jobs. Armegeddon.
Think about it.
Martin B.
Dear Martin B,
I’m assuming the B stands for Bigot. I think you have well and truly missed the point. Most of your rational is based on the assumption that marriage was created to raise children. Plenty of Marriages are childless. And yes, whilst some of these cases are not by choice, some of them are. Would you then tell these Married couples they should not have got married if then didn’t at least intend to have children?
I think you’ll find that the idea of marriage was based on the idea of ownership. “Who gives this woman” etc. Today though I think Marriage is all about telling someone you want to be with them for the rest of your life. Most people also like to do this in front of their friends and family. It’s a celebration of love and a joining of lives which has been a right of straight couples for a very long time.
This is all we want, a celebration of our loves, and relationships in front of our friends and families.
I also believe that that a child with a loving home, that has good role models, regardless of it’s parent’s or guardian’s sexual preference that child will grow up to be a valued member of society.
And to be honest, yes your last point is ridiculous! And actually very offensive that you would regard a same sex relationship as similar to a brother of sister, or a son and mother. All your last point does is reiterate why same sex couples feel the need to validate their relationship in a world that likes to pigeon hole people.
If indeed in 100 years, 50% of Irish people are in same-sex partnerships (married or not) then, by YOUR definition, there wouldn’t have children anyway, so what’s your point.
It’s a persons views about the world that makes them liberal of not, not that they used to be an art teacher and played in bands. Let’s remember Hitler was a keen painter and Bounty killer, who could loosely be called a musician has been banned from playing in this country for his homophobic lyrics.
I hope my responses may encourage you to have another think about your arguments.
B, a few years ago, my friends 86 year old grandfather married a slip of a girl, aged 65. Presumably, using your logic their marriage was wrong too. It was in a Catholic church as well – tut tut.
Regarding point 3 – Even with clever use of semantics, ‘their’ child is either someone else’s or was carried by only ONE of them who was impregnated by male sperm. The other one is nothing to the child (apart from mother’s lover) no matter how often they say the “two mummies” mantra.
For many children of straight women, married or single, their biological father is nothing more than a sperm donor providing no financial, emotional or practical parenting. Holding up a straight union as the ideal for children misses the point entirely. To say that the non-biological parent is nothing to the child fails to recognise the provision of financial, emotional and practical parenting provided them. Would you also suggest that step-parents are ‘nothing’ to their step-children? That adoptive parents are ‘nothing’ to their adopted children?
Regarding Point 5 – Currently marriage recognises the ‘romantic-love’ and life commitment of 2 grown-ups. Would it be true to say that you married your wife merely because she was a person of the opposite sex who also wanted a financial arrangement with you? I doubt this is the case. To suggest that such a commitment between gay people is equivalent of a grown-up paedophile and his niece (an abused child) shows an absolute lack of respect for the choices of your fellow human beings. The paedophile may well choose to marry his victim, certainly the victim is not making a free choise, nor are they legally entitled to enter into legal agreements, being children.
Marriage as concieved by the church is indeed a union under God between a Man and a Woman with the purpose of producting and raising children. It is also a legal union under the state, it is that state that governs the legal ramifications and recognition of marriage. The state recognising gay marriage does not neccesitate the church recognising the marriage. State treating all adults equally mean that they must allow couples, straight and gay, to marry regardless of the church.
I hope you will make an effort to rationally address your arguments and as a self-proclaimed liberal refrain from attempting to limit the freedom and life choices of law-abiding people.