Tag Archives: Marriage referendum

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Hot Press writes:

“To mark the occasion and to reflect the huge importance of the Marriage Equality Referendum, this fortnight, Hot Press features two separate covers, featuring male and female same sex couples kissing. The couples – Steph and Megan and Dean and Martin – were photographed sharing an intimate kiss with their same sex partners by Kathrin Baumbach specially for this issue’s cover. Hot Press has always campaigned vocally on the issue of gay rights and equality, and the striking images make a clear statement about the value and integrity of same sex love, ahead of polling day on May 22.”

Vote Yes on May 22nd in the same sex marriage referendum (Hot Press)

canada

“This video consists of Irish people in Canada explaining that they can’t get home to vote and encouraging those who can to vote yes. [Irish-English singer] Maverick Sabre has provided his track ‘I Need’ to show his support of the YES campaign…”

Katie Bolger of Egale Canada Human Rights Trust (Canada’s only national charity promoting LGBT human rights) on behalf of Irish people living abroad to support the YES campaign for marriage equality.

FIGHT!

Egale Human Rights Trust (Facebook)

Thanks Jack Whelan

Meanwhile…

murphyProfessor John A Murphy

Article 41 of the Constitution, as of now, clearly deals with the man-woman based family. If the proposed amendment is popularly approved, then a “marriage between two persons of the same sex will have the same status under the Constitution as a marriage between a man and a woman” and “will be recognised as a family and be entitled to the Constitutional protection for families” (Referendum Commission).

Thus, if the referendum is passed, Article 41, heretofore unambiguously and exclusively heterosexual, will also recognise a homosexual couple “as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society . . . a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights , antecedent and superior to all positive law”. Moreover such a couple will be guaranteed protection by the State “as the necessary basis of social order and as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and the State” (Article 1.2).

Because I reject this grotesque nonsense, I will be voting No.

John A Murphy

 Irish Times Letters

Meanwhile…

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Oh brother.

Miss Panti writes:

Sometimes the mask slips and they reveal what they’ve tried so hard to conceal: their true feelings. I think it’s very revealing that David Quinn is prepared to endorse the use of the word “grotesque” about gay relationships and families.

I can think of lots of things that are grotesque. Extending constitutional protection to all families is not one of them. Even families that David so witheringly disapproves of. I would call it “fair”, “reasonable”, “compassionate”, “considerate”, “respectful”, or even “the very least we can do”. But not “grotesque”.

Miss Panti (Facebook)

Thanks Andy Sheridan

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This morning/afternoon.

At the Noble Call For Marriage Equality in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin

The Abbey Theatre tweetz:

[Playwright] Frank McGuinness reads a poem for his [same sex] partner of 37 years…”

Meanwhile earlier…
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Lovely luvvies for love at the Abbey Theatre this morning/afternoon

From top: Gabriel Byrne and Fianna Fail TD Pat Carey; actor Sarah Greene; Laurence Kinlan and Susan Loughnane.

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

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Ross writes:

Ad printed in the Dundalk Argus is causing a bit of a stir on social media locally. Most people are pretty shocked with the bluntness of the message, prior to this there has been no sign of a no campaign in Dundalk that I’ve seen, can’t even recall seeing a No poster. Up until now it’s all been really positive stuff from the Yes side.

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Alan Daly adds:

It’s also in the Meath Chronicle and the Anglo Celt….

Ger BrennanDublin GAA footballer Ger Brennan

“It seems like every celebrity and every group in the country is calling for a ‘Yes’ vote. Even the Gardaí have been used by the ‘Yes’ campaign to support the referendum proposal. I see all the ‘Vote No’ posters being ripped down and defaced all across Dublin without anyone in politics or in the media condemning it.

I very nearly decided not to write this piece. I know I’ll be targeted for it and labeled for it. It would have been easier to keep my mouth shut and not rock the boat. But I’m sick of the accusations being flung around that if you vote ‘No’ you are homophobic. I know I’m not homophobic; my gay friends and family can attest to that. I am voting “No” because I don’t want our Constitution to deny that it is a good thing for a child to have a mother and a father.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights proclaims that everybody is equal in dignity and it holds that marriage is a male-female union. I don’t think the Declaration of Human Rights is homophobic. I’m voting ‘No’.”

Dublin football star Ger Brennan: Why I’m voting No (Ger Brennan, Independent.ie)

Darren asks:

Doesn’t Ger Brennan teach Religion for a living? Not a mention of that here….

Meanwhile…

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Starina writes:

Ranelagh Bridge [Dublin 6] this morning: some seriously Orwellian thinking from the “no” side. the use of a heart is particularly disturbing.

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Irish Times, April 23, 1993

‘Children taught in school that homosexuality is a normal variant like left handedness.’

‘Employees compelled to employ militant gays…’

“The human rectum is designed to expel waste…”

The extreme case against the decriminlisation of homosexuality in Ireland made by Joseph McCarroll, then head of Family Solidarity and later Families Against Divorce.

Wonder what he’s up to?

Perhaps with the benefit of hindsigh –

“Inserting into the Constitution an Amendment purporting to create a right of persons of the same sex to marry puts in place a legal rationalisation at the highest level that makes it more likely that Courts would argue and conclude that such couples have a right to an opportunity to “have children” using IVF, thereby making more difficult and less likely to succeed, moves to have IVF practices involving violations of unborn human embryos’ rights to life and to uninterrupted human development vindicated in Irish courts.”

Joseph McCarroll, Vice chairman Pro-Life Campaign,  May 2015.

Oh.

Joseph McCarroll (Facebook)

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Sr Stanislaus Kennedy

First in a series.

“I have thought a lot about this. I am going to vote Yes in recognition of the gay community as full members of society. They should have an entitlement to marry. It is a civil right and a human right.”

Sr Stan, age 75, a member of the congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity and founder of the homeless support organisation Focus Ireland.

Sr Stan to vote in favour of same sex marriage (Irish Times)

Previously: Priests For Yes

(Photocall Ireland)