Further to [University College of Dublin independent paper] The University Observer’s marriage equality referendum wraparound.
Brian Mathuna, of UCD SU writes:
We have also produced a number of videos to back up this campaign.This one (above) is especially good….
Previously: Decent Irish Wraparound
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For years I struggled with my sexuality, torn between wanting to be straight and fighting the desire to be with men. Constant struggle like this made me ill to the point that I was suicidal. I came home one day at 18 from work and said to my parents I wanted to end it all. Then I went to college, they gave me full support. They never knew till about three years later and I came out as typically a lot of young men do as ‘bisexual’. My brother and parents have always been supportive. Over the year I told my close friends who are still close friends to this day and they have always supported me. I have done the whole gay scene and now Im in a relationship with a man who I love deeply, my other half. This year we are moving in together and starting a new chapter in our lives. Same sex marriage will confer the same rights on to us as to other couples. This is not about debasing the institution of marriage but its about giving equality to all. So remember 22nd of May – vote Yes, give me the same chances and opportunities you have and give it to our community to. Thank you!
Great post. And i will be voting yes. But something iv always had a problem with is couples(Gay or straight) who just don’t want marriage have no where near the same rights as a married couple who could have just met 6 months ago. Hopefully it’s a Yes vote and then people might move on to giving us all the same rights married or not
Thank you for telling your story fluffybiscuits.
Voting yes will damage no-one,but confer on loving couples the same protection under the constitution that majority of the population take for granted.
I hate fluffy. He’s a boring, conservative. But I’ll be voting yes, and enthusiastically.
Thanks all!
Me conservative ! Ha!! Next you will say ABM is liberal!
Fair play Fluffy for putting that out there !
Got my vote!
+ another Yes vote
YES – for you Fluffy and for everyone.
FLAPS!
That lady is lovely.
cool granny!
That ad is poo. What worries me is that all these hipster ads are useless. We need a yes vote to actually go and vote. How many fashionista hipsters will bother to vote? This vote is not a hip-badge event, it’s very important.
I agree. This is all very nice, but it’s preaching to the converted. I’ve a feeling that soft no/yes voters (ie the people who need to be convinced) find a lot of this stuff off putting. It’s designed to be seen as revealing the humanity etc of real gay people, but i suspect it comes across to them as gay navel gazing.
This is not about love. Marriage or the lack of it is never an impediment to love. The polls today show that the Yes side are suffering from the notion that they are right and why doesn’t everyone else get it (the homophobes). This is a door to door battle for the middle ground, not preaching hippy dippy videos to the already converted.
Well Bluebeard you could read my post above and get a sense of what it is like to be on the other side of the fence….
Bluebeard, the poll shows a drop to 74%. How you are reading in that the no side is being accused of being homophobic I’m no sure.
I am going door to door and in general people are very positive about this. Those who aren’t do tend to be older, I’m guessing aren’t online and aren’t seeing these ads.
So yes, they need to be talked to in person, their concerns addressed.
For many, being gay was illegal for most of their lifetime and sexuality in general not a topic for discussion. It needs to be recognized that this is a very big cultural leap for them.
Fluffy, marriage has not denied you love. I hope this passes. The rights in question need to be outlined. In my own campaigning that is the most common question, what does civil partnership not allow gay people have that marriage would? And whether you like it or not dubloony, the yes campaign has been divisive. As a straight supporter, I found some of the yes campaign to be quite intolerant of any questioning. As often happens, they may win the argument but lose the audience.
I asked this question recently and was told that Civil Partnership does not allow partners to be next of kin. So presumably, if a partner is seriously ill, the other partner is forced to take a back seat and leave decisions on treatment etc to the family of origin. Correct me if I’m wrong. That for me would be sufficient reason to vote yes.
What Buzz said, Civil Partnership does not give the EXACT same rights as marriage. Even taking account of the fact there’s difference in man and woman and two of same gender. there are too many cracks in civil marriage and this referendum will bring it all up to a level grounding for all.
They’re not the same – civil partnership and marriage. If they were, I might not really give a tuppenny fupp… certainly not as much.
See Fluffy’s link below… 160 differences!
@Bluebeard
http://www.marriagequality.ie/getinformed/missingpieces.html
160+things missing
I’ll probably vote no, as is my right.
You are entitled to do that but just think about the people affected in the process :)
Of course its your right ollie.
Just curious if there is any particular reason for it?
“Gay marriage will not confer any rights that do not already exist. The referendum is therefore unnecessary.” – James Downey writing in today’s Irish Independent.
He blatantly just ignores the differences between civil partnership and marriage and insists they are the same. He’s intentionally misinformed and intentionally spreading his misinformed opinion, as he says himself…. “the fact remains that gays have exactly the same rights under the law as everybody else. Crucially, they have the right to marry, albeit under the label of civil partnership”.
He quite simply ignores the 160 differences between civil partnership and marriage. And insists they are the same thing. He’s a dumbass.
This is what I am finding. The lack of understanding about the actual meaning of the referendum is being obscured by talk of love, equality and homophobia. All abstract and meaningless terms. Calm, measured reasoning is needed. What practical examples are there of the difference it would make. What is it preventing people from doing. This is what I find works.
“What is it preventing people from doing.”
See here, 160 differences, with things being prevented, set out under 7 categories – http://www.marriagequality.ie/getinformed/missingpieces.html
Not much use on a website now are they? Speak them, discuss them, promote them. Don’t be naive thinking, oh they are online, job done.
Agreed, the people who need to be convinced aren’t online.
And a neat summary would be useful as well, e.g. top 5 reasons.
I am voting no. A difficult decision as I really want to vote yes, have gay friends and think that they have conducted themselves very well in this debate. It’s the pushy heterosexuals that are putting me off. The people who get perpetually outraged on behalf of others. I just want to see their outrage if it’s defeated.
*farts*