Tag Archives: Gay Equality

An Army officer being promoted to brigadier general openly acknowledged her homosexuality on Friday by having her wife pin her star to her uniform, thus becoming the first openly gay officer of flag rank in the United States military. The officer, Brig. Gen. Tammy S. Smith, 49, a 26-year veteran of the Army, was promoted in a ceremony at the women’s memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The star was affixed by Tracey Hepner, who was a co-founder last year of the Military Partners and Families Coalition.

Woman Becomes First Openly Gay General (New York Times)

Thanks Barry H

This is a transcript of the short speech Union of Students in Ireland Vice President for Equality and Citizenship Laura Harmon gave at the Rainbow Wedding outside the Department of the Taoiseach yesterday..

 The Future We Demand

Our generation knows what future we want for ourselves, for our friends and for our families.

This is a future where children, no matter what their gender identity or sexual orientation is, can aspire to have the same dreams and quality of life as their peers.

They will see role models in their everyday lives who are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender – teachers, sportspeople, public representatives; aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters.

They will be able to enjoy their childhoods free from homophobic or transphobic bullying –because the society we are fighting for does not institutionalise or tolerate discrimination.

The future we want is a future where young adults will not live in fear that their sexual orientation or gender identity will act as a barrier to employment or threaten their job security.

These young adults will not have to ask their Taoiseach to announce his support for their rights or for the rights of their friends – because it will be a given.

The future we aspire to is a future where all love is valued equally – where all couples have marriage equality, a future where generations like ours are not divided by inequality.

All couples and families will be treated equally in the eyes of the law and by our society. All children will be recognised and protected – be they from same-sex or opposite sex families.

Trans people will be treated with dignity. They will be able to have their gender identity recognised in a respectful manner that does not require them to be diagnosed with a disorder or force them to divorce.

Our generation knows that LGBT rights are human rights.

We refuse to accept the inequalities imposed upon our generation.

By supporting our LGBT friends, by lobbying our TDs, by raising awareness and educating our peers – we will change Ireland for the better, we will realise the future we are fighting for and we will not give up until we achieve this.

We are standing on the right side of history. We hope you will stand with us as we march in the LGBT Noise March for Marriage on August 12.

USI (Facebook)

Previously: Start Spreading The News

Thanks Ronan Costello

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Og2H6Y-8w&feature=plcp

Irish lesbians, gays and the transgendered on Irish telly over the last three decades.

A video made for the GAZE Dublin International LGBT Film Festival –  August 2-6.

Director/Producer – Anna Rodgers, Editor – Martha Meyle,r Composer – Hugh Rodgers, Sound Mixer – Jeremy Rynhart, Online Editor – Séamus Connolly,  Assistant Editor – Bob Gallagher,  Post Production Facilities provided by Crossing the Line Films

 

Gaze Dublin International LGBT Film Festival

Thanks, DIT LGBT Society and DD

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5gvaQyD038&fb_source=message

Ronan Costello writes:

This  excellent video was produced at Pink Training 2011/2012. Pink Training is the largest training event for LGBT students in Ireland and the UK. LGBT students from all over Ireland (North and South) come together for a weekend of modules and workshops covering a wide range of subjects from coming out to activism on campus. This issue is particularly relevant as The March For Marriage draws near.

 

“The Taoiseach was correct last week in not succumbing to the pressure and tactics of some to say “Yea” or “Nay” [on gay marriage]. This is not a political football…
…The [Constitution convention is important because it is about the lives of all our people. That is why I am proud of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste who in the programme for Government enshrined in this constitutional convention that we will have in the lifetime of this Government a plebiscite of the people which is as it should be.

Jerry Buttimer (left) TD and leader of the Fine Gael LGBT group, last night in the Dail.

Alternatively…

Just to be clear, a referendum is NOT required to bring about equal marriage – and I really wish news media would frame quotes like that with that piece of information.
The Irish Constitution does not define marriage as being between a man and a woman, and only if the Constitutional Convention says that it probably meant to (and then the Cabinet go with that way of thinking) would there be a referendum.
It infuriates me to watch news organisations and politicians lay back and wait for a referendum to happen as if inevitable, when having the entire population vote on the rights of a minority would be a black mark on Ireland.

Broadsheet commenter Alfla.

Legal opinion welcome below.

Mr [Ruairi] Quinn said that said that the Labour Party always supported gay marriage but that the Constitution “defined marriage”. He said civil partnerships had delivered a certain amount of rights to gay couples. However, his “own personal view” is that it would now be something the Constitutional Convention would look at and make recommendations.

 

Full Gay Marriage Would Require Referendum – Quinn (RTE)

Also: Cork City Council Unanimously Backs Gay Marriage In Landmark Vote (BreakingNews.ie)

(Mark Stedman, Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)