Report on gay marriage in Ireland
MarriagEquality's report in pdf: A staggering 81%, or eight out of ten people believe that all people living in Ireland should receive equal treatment from the state regardless of whether they are lesbian, straight or gay. Indeed, six out of ten people believe that denying marriage to lesbians and gay men is a form of discrimination. The same number, six out of ten, further believe that excluding lesbians and gay men from marriage in a registry office is unfair.
Above text courtesy of Dermod Moore: http://delicious.com/bonhom.ie
Donagh is the editor of Irish Left Review.
Contact Donagh through email: dublinopinionAtgmail.com
Latest posts by Donagh (see all)
- The policy of transferring incomes to capital and the rich - September 6, 2012
- ILR Will Not Blink While Facing Down the Jaws of Excessive CPU Usage - September 6, 2012
- Dan Froomkin | The Jobs Crisis Obama, Romney and the Low-Wage Future of America - August 29, 2012
- Money as a Social Construct – Talk Given by Mary Mellor - August 27, 2012
- - August 23, 2012
July 19, 2009 6:18 pm
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.
August 26, 2009 1:49 am
This is a direct comment on the first by “Martin B.
I am a twenty-one year old recent graduate from County Cork.
To be perfectly honest after reading your statement I’m personally offended. I believe that Gays and Lesbians have been fighting for equal rights for many, many years and we like African Americans (I hope that is the proper ethnical term) and other unrecognised ethnicities have the right to be like everyone else.
Homosexuals have been persecuted for being different for far too long.
If America can vote in a spectacular African American President, why can’t Ireland vote in Gay Marriage?
I myself, have personal and just reasons why Gay-Marriage should be made legal in Ireland;
1. In February 2009 a survey indicated that 62% of Irish people supported same-sex marriage and would vote in favour of it if a referendum were held.
2. In my personal opinion Marriage is yes, a sacred union between two people who love each other dearly and are prepared to spend theirs lives together. Whether they are an opposite sex couple or a same-sex couple, all that matters is that the love they carry for one another is pure.
3. Same-sex couples are entitled to adopt or can find a seraget to have a child for them. There are many options available to all couples, from all walks of life. I do in fact know of a couple that have done this and are blissfully happy.
I have spoken to my family previously and have warned them that if I were to meet that special someone that I would want to marry him, I would want to spend my life with him and share all my love and affection with him forever.
Civil Ceremonies provide security but that does not have the same effect or security that a marriage provides.
I have always wanted to be a father and when that time will come and trust me, it will, I want to be married. I want to be recognised as married by Irish law. It may not mean much to those who are not of the homosexual persuasion “so to speak”, and I do not to be a stereotype, I mean only to get my point across.
Homosexual men and women have the right to want to marry like their parents. We see other countries such as; Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain & Sweden, all with Marriage legalised. Is it too much to ask for the same here?
D-Patrick, Cork
September 8, 2009 2:07 am
I fully agree with you patrick. if were left to some people in ireland and I must single out the church in this regard we would be left back in the dark ages with candles. its all rather sad to think that we are still debating this kind of stuff still in Ireland.
November 10, 2009 10:42 am
I am deeply angered by the fact that in this country as we face into public sector pay cuts and low income wage cuts that i am expected to pay the taxes the same as everyone else (which i am more then happy to do) but am unable to expect the government to acknowledge that as a lesbian i may want to get married and have children.
we are all shouldering the full force of the recession in taxes and pay cuts but where the hell is our equal treatment in the eyes of the state?
why in 2009 are we even having this argument ? why should it matter to the state who i want to get married so long as i remain a tax payer and law abiding citizen.
ireland has come a long way since the dark days prior to legalisation in ’93 and we have come so far. lets not fall on the last hurdle.
it is indeed a human right issue.
November 10, 2009 10:45 am
by the way, the above comment with the clear emphasis on ‘them.’ surely we are not all people ? i do not refer to people with different lifestyles as ‘them.’ we are all the same. we eat, drink, walk, talk and are the same. but the more we use terms like ‘them’ and ‘us’ to define ourselves. the bigger the divide we create.
November 10, 2009 4:16 pm
You’re absolutely right Caz, and right to be angry. And what is more most Irish people agree with us. It is only the government that is out of step. It seems we don’t have a government for the people – only for some people and we all know who they are.
November 11, 2009 3:12 am
I fully agree with both of you, as I’ve already stated in the second comment on this article. “We” (being anyone with an open mind, which is most of Ireland by now) should not have to be afraid of who we are or what we represent. Most of Irish citizens at this stage have accepted Homosexual men and women and agree that equal rights should be given to “us” also. We breath, talk, laugh & cry just like everyone else. And, I also agree that the government is “out of step”.
One thing is for sure, the Irish Government is mostly made up of TDs that stuck in the past & are refusing to budge.
December 16, 2009 3:18 am
Hello,
My name is Danny and I strongly believe in human rights and the support of equality in marriage. We are all human and I know that God made all of us. Whether we are gay or straight, God made us all individually and loves us all uniquely. I’ve been brought up in a home of love, compassion, understanding, and acceptance. Love comes in many forms, and love cannot be stopped. Love is like a fast flowing river that breaks through dams and reaches unfathomable distances. Love cannot be hindered. I believe that if two people are truly in love… that they should be able to marry. We as humans have accomplished many great things… accepting gays with open arms with love and acceptance will be such a great step for all of us. How can you judge two people in love? God made all of us and God wants us all to love each other and accept each other hand in hand. God wants us to live lives of love, happiness, charity, acceptance and pure togetherness. Each and every one of us is meant to be with someone else… whether they be of the same gender or not, for love is unstoppable. I am a person of Faith, who believes in Love, Equality, Acceptance, and Understanding. God made all of us and His Love is everlasting.
February 4, 2010 7:40 pm
-Martin B,
Homosexuality,I’m sorry to say,will not increase with
more legislation in place that gives us the rights that we are being denied!
There has always been a similar hetro to homosexual ratio,and I dont think the way people are born will
be changed due to which sex I or anybody else wish to marry.
In countries like the neatherlands,belgium,norway and sweeden,they certainly have not seen the dramatic rise in open homosexualality amoung their citizens that you fear could take place.
6 out of 10 people beleive that homosexuals should have the right to marry.6 out of 10 people would also vote in favour of gay marraige when there is a referendum.These ‘beleifs’sir, are by no means the of a minority,but a country!
June 2, 2010 2:14 am
hiya poeple …i would like to say something . ok am from mauritius n am in ireland form nearly 3 yrs now
n am in a very serious relationship with a man yes a man we r living together looking after each other as life is going .but first of all those poeple who says that gay marriage should not be legal in ireland they actually r not human n who know tomorrow there might be a gay child growing up in there own household then they will be the first one to accept gay marriage . am here studying n working .i have my own car ,i pay 2000 euro every year for college fee ,tax , rent , spending money in day to day living ,if i would marry a woman it would be no problem at all but fortunately i love a man i feel like its a big deal for this government n some people in this country its a petty i want to stay here with my husband but its kind of becoming a dream . if people would know in what condition s my partner then they will realise that a relationship is not ony love n sex but caring a lot i mean it a lot for each other i have to look after my partner a lot koz of his health n am affraid that all this will result as one day i will have to leave this country koz am not n eu citizen or am not married to him .then what do we call this . funny i have a mauritian friend who is married to an irish woman n he is way better than me . ok he is mauritian , i am,he is studying , i am , he is living in ireland n paying tax , i am , but he is married already but am on waiting list hahahaha like god know what gonna happen …. will i be able to get married i reall have to pray a lot i think
……