Labour leader and deputy leader Eamon Gilmore is now the most senior politician to step out in support of gay marriage in Ireland. Gilmore said this weekend during Dublin’s Gay Pride celebrations that the issue of gay marriage will be included in the upcoming constitutional convention.
TheJournal.ie reported on Tanaiste Gilmore’s remarks made on Saturday while he was speaking at Merrion Square, the culmination point of Dublin’s annual Gay Pride Parade.
Said Gilmore in what is now considered a “historic” statement, “I believe that in certain key areas, our laws are out of step with public opinion. I don’t believe for example that it should ever be the role of the State to pass judgement on whom a person falls in love with, or whom they want to spend their life with.”
“That is why the issue of same-sex marriage is to be included for consideration by the constitutional convention. I believe in gay marriage. The right of gay couples to marry is, quite simply, the civil rights issue of this generation and, in my opinion, its time has come.”
Kieran Rose, chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, responded to Gilmore’s statement by saying “To move to marriage now and provide full Constitutional equality for lesbian and gay people is not a massive legislative leap; it is an incremental step, building on the success of our Civil Partnership legislation.”
By coming out in support of same-sex marriage, Gilmore falls in line with a Red C poll conducted earlier this year which found that more than 70 per cent of people believed that same-sex marriage should be allowed under the Irish constitution.
Gilmore offered his historic comments during Dublin’s 29th annual Gay Pride celebrations. For the first year ever, members from every political party had representation at the capital city’s festivities, which were marked by a parade attended by nearly 30,000 people.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.ciaradexy | Jul 05, 2012, 12:04 PM EDT
So many 'straight' people on this site seem to be obsessed with what gay people do in their own bedrooms. Could this be because they are bi-curious?
GregShox | Jul 04, 2012, 02:34 PM EDT
Not to mention heterosexual people who have oral and anal sex.
leispiach | Jul 04, 2012, 09:35 AM EDT
I really don't understand what the obsession is with the sexual practices of gay people, people marry out of love not out of sexual voracity. Also, what of asexual homoromantics (people who love others of the same sex but do not engage in sexual activity) Is it ok for them to marry since they're not having anal intercourse?
IrelandNorth | Jul 04, 2012, 08:07 AM EDT
More inconsequential nonsense. Taniste Gilmore should speak for himself, or marry Taoiseach Ó Cíonnaith nuptially like they seem they have coalesced politically. But they represent a broader constituency than small vociferous minorities. Incidentally, pride is one of the seven deadly sins. And homosexuals don't represent Dublin. There are choices other than those between sexual repression adn sexual licentiousness. Keep it in the closet
leispiach | Jul 04, 2012, 07:33 AM EDT
The vast majority of gay and lesbian people do not wish their marriage to be recognised in the eyes of the church or god, I have only met one gay person who actually wanted to get married in a church. While I can't speak for everyone, I think most of us just want the same legal rights for our families that are afforded to heterosexual couples.
EamonnDublin | Jul 04, 2012, 03:03 AM EDT
Gregshox - Yes, absolutely! He is the Prime Minister, it's just that he is not called by that name. But yes, you are correct. When other countries' politicians refer to ours, they will usually say "The Prime Minister" (of Ireland) and we don't take offence in any way. Obviously, to take offence, or to make an issue of it, would be churlish in the extreme. Most foreign media, especially radio and TV, will also refer to "The Irish Prime Minister". It's just that we don't! By the way, in case "ByTheBay" is now seeing red and beginning to type that I am talking about "The Republic of Ireland", yes, I am. The Republic of Ireland is commonly referred to as "Ireland", whereas the six counties of Northern Ireland is always referred to as "Northern Ireland". Most people don't bother saying "The Republic Of" Ireland, they just say "Ireland". But when referring to the north, one always says "Northern Ireland". Thank God things are much better at present in the situation in Northern Ireland and long may it last - it's just a few ultra-extremists now who refuse to forgive, forget, move on. Éamonn.
GregShox | Jul 03, 2012, 05:58 PM EDT
But he is a prime minister, is he not?
EamonnDublin | Jul 03, 2012, 05:33 PM EDT
No problem, GregShox, my pleasure! I should, by the way, have made it clear that we NEVER call An Taoiseach the "Prime Minister". He is always called "An Taoiseach" or "The Taoiseach". Éamonn, Dublin.
GregShox | Jul 03, 2012, 03:41 PM EDT
Thanks Eamonn. I'm probably big and ugly enough to handle insults by now and I'd still like to hear By thebay's answer to my question.
EamonnDublin | Jul 03, 2012, 02:06 PM EDT
Hi GregShox, Forgive me for jumping in, but at least I'll answer your question! ByTheBay would most probably simply insult you for some twisted reason - that's all he appears to do. The title for the Irish equivalent of "Prime Minister" (head of government) is "An Taoiseach", which, translated to English means "The Chief" or "The Chieftain", or even "The Leader". "An" is pronounced "On" or "Un", depending on where one is from (accent, etc.) and "Taoiseach" is pronounced "Tee-shock" - with the end of "Taoiseach" classically sounding gutteral, as opposed to a hard "k" sound. I trust this answers your question. Best Wishes, Éamonn, Dublin.
GregShox | Jul 03, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT
Bythebay -- Does the title Prime Minister exist in Ireland?
ciaradexy | Jul 03, 2012, 11:01 AM EDT
Its about time! many of us have been petitioning for equal rights to marry for years. I have many gay friends who are in their relationships years. Why shouldnt they be allowed marry!? This is great news now follow it up with action Eamo.
EamonnDublin | Jul 03, 2012, 10:45 AM EDT
"ByTheBay" - I am serious now! There is something BADLY wrong with you. You really DO have a problem! Oh, I should also mention to you that I have answered your latest suggestion (in the "101 Scenic drives" posts) that I am not living in Dublin. Have a look at it and then apologise. In the meantime, tell your doctor that he needs to change your tablets, as the present ones are making you worse. Éamonn, Terenure, Dublin, IRELAND.
Bythebay | Jul 03, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT
Deputy Prime Minister title doesn't exist in Ireland. The title is Tánaiste, deputy head of government. Difficult for you Yanks Kerry O'Shea but you can get it!!
Bythebay | Jul 03, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT
hermitTalker, he's not your Foreign Affairs Minister and Deputy Taoiseach, he's the people in Ireland's. His title is Tánaiste, difficult title for you Yanks. Tanaiste = Deputy head of government. The decision will be made by the people of Ireland, not those of you elsewhere.
EamonnDublin | Jul 03, 2012, 03:59 AM EDT
"hollabackgurl" - I have no views whatsoever on the rights or wrongs of ANYBODY living together. It doesn't concern me in the slightest. Why are you trying to put words in my mouth? Is it because there is no argument against what I actually said? Which is - "fall in love, live together" No problem. Yes, there's a word for people like me, beginning with an "H" as you say - it's "Heterosexual". And proud to so be. Now, if you're gay, go ahead and be proud, I'm not disputing your right to be gay and be proud to be gay. Neither am I disputing your right to fall in love and live with the love of your life. Eamon Gilmore seems to think "gay" people cannot do that at present. What utter rubbish! Éamonn, Dublin.
EphraimKibbey | Jul 03, 2012, 12:16 AM EDT
Look to the nations that ARE theocracies and think long and hard about whether that is the path you REALLY want to take before condemning a secular government that protects ALL beliefs.
Jung Woman | Jul 02, 2012, 08:44 PM EDT
Bravo Ireland. Makes me proud on my native country people. Marriage is the union of two people committed to creating a loving partnership. The Church has managed to do a pretty good job of destroying the concept of true love whether it be same sex or opposite. Remember -" the greatest of these is love" - that does not say anything about who one can or cannot love. If you are threatened by same sex marriage then I suggest you look at your own marriage or "wedlock!" Live and let love - I say! Carry on in peace and you will find some of the greatest people you encounter have open minds and hearts on this issue. I find that folks opposed to same sex marriage were also opposed to interracial marriage. Sound familiar? This is a great discussion for our time.
bonjouryall | Jul 02, 2012, 07:55 PM EDT
Personally, I think it's time for the Government to get out of religious affairs, such as marriage. The only reason there are civil ceremonies at all was so the king could collect marriage license fees. The Govt does as much against the development of families as it does to encourage families nowadays. All laws can be written nowadays be marriage neutral but still require support of proper parties such as children. Let's separate Church and State.
irishpjk | Jul 02, 2012, 07:37 PM EDT
wtf
marcustam | Jul 02, 2012, 07:01 PM EDT
This is so sad. There is no justification to redefine marriage. Ireland was once one of the greatest Christain nations. Abortion..homosexual marriage..Jesus have mercy on us.
alisaann | Jul 02, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT
GOOD for him....gays SHOULD have ALL THE SAME RIGHTS AS EVERYONE ELSE....LOVE IS LOVE, NO MATTER THE "GENDER" OR RACE OF THOSE INVOLVED....MARRIAGE IS NOT ABOUT HAVING KIDS OR RELIGION...MARRIAGE IS ABOUT LOVE & PARTNERSHIP....alot of straight couples either DON'T want kids or CAN'T have them....should they be KEPT from marrying too? alisa
hollabackgurl | Jul 02, 2012, 06:27 PM EDT
You're not old fashioned when you say "What does the Bible say" you're being older than old fashioned Peterson. Thankfully there aren't too many people who refer to the values and attitudes and prejudices of 1400 BC in 2012 AD.
hollabackgurl | Jul 02, 2012, 06:24 PM EDT
So you advocate couples living together when they're gay but not when they're straight EamonnDublin? Your arguement deconstructs itself and unmasks your real contention - that gay couples aren't worthy of the respect or legal equality you insist on for straight couples. There's a word to describe people like you, it starts with a H too.
EamonnDublin | Jul 02, 2012, 02:57 PM EDT
Eamon Gilmore said: "I don’t believe for example that it should ever be the role of the State to pass judgement on whom a person falls in love with, or whom they want to spend their life with." So, Mr. Gilmore, who's stopping them at the moment. They can fall in love with whom they want; if the object of their affection feels the same way in reverse (so to speak), then they can spend their lives together. Nobody is stopping them at present. Fall in love, live together! Just as you advocate! Why do they make such a fuss about getting "married"? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
peterson | Jul 02, 2012, 02:14 PM EDT
I guess that I am "old Fashioned" when I say "What does the Bible say ?" How about that Mr. Gilmore ? If more people would live by the Bible and not by the words of modern "role models", what a better world this would be !
dingle999 | Jul 02, 2012, 02:12 PM EDT
Well Dick Cheney was happy when his daughter married her girlfriend.. So if it is okay with Cheney then it is okay in Ireland as well
hollabackgurl | Jul 02, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT
There has never been a 'society based on atheism and hedonism' except for Las Vegas and it seems to be doing just fine jhmdeuce.
Joe Kelsall | Jul 02, 2012, 12:52 PM EDT
Jeez! The World's coming to an end !(:o)
GregShox | Jul 02, 2012, 12:07 PM EDT
jhmdeuce -- Thanks for telling us in Ireland what we should be doing. We'll call back if we need more advice.
jhmdeuce | Jul 02, 2012, 11:59 AM EDT
It has nothing to do with dogma or religion. When Ireland could be in the forefront of leading the world back to a recognition of God, she instead follows the rest of Europe and the USA and Canada down the rat-hole of secular humanism. No society based on atheism and hedonism has ever flourished of endured for long. How sad that Ireland will disappear.
mayoman | Jul 02, 2012, 11:59 AM EDT
Eamon Gilmore is absolutely right!
eiriamach | Jul 02, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT
@hermitTalker, It's everyone's responsibility to become informed about and ultimately to decide what comes from Nature. If the American founders had not respected "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God," then we'd still be an underrepresented set of colonies subject to a British monarch and Parliament. The equality of all citizens under human law is among the first-rank tenets of Natural Law. When an issue involves equality, as same-sex marriage does, government must respond. What's the alternative? For government to enact the sectarian moralistic dogmas of your church? Uh-uh! @handsome68, Mosaic law forbids adultery, but says nothing about the gender of spouses nor the number of spouses (polygamy was OK and required by some OT passages)! "One man, one woman"? FIND it in Mosaic law, and don't skip over the passages that command men to practice what we now call bigamy.
rondonaghe | Jul 02, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT
Bravo for Gilmore. Gay marriage is coming to a civilized country near you, so why not in your own country. I'm Irish to the core but, alas, I live in the US and have all my life. My single trip to both Ireland and Northern Ireland a few years ago was an eye-opening experience. While at the moment the Republic of Ireland is struggling financially and the six counties of Northern Ireland remain "British," I was blown away by the beauty of the country, the beauty and friendliness of the people, and it just seems a logical step for there to be legal marriage for same-sex couples. Wonderful!
hermitTalker | Jul 02, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
What dumb logic from our Foreign Affairs minister and deputy Taoiseach. Marriage has a specific meaning and purpose. "Rights" and "choice" are not absolutes. Make rules for the regulation of society, that is government's role, not deciding what the Rules are that come from Nature, not the Constitution or any Court anywhere.
handsome68 | Jul 02, 2012, 10:31 AM EDT
Re: same-sex marriage, there is "an elephant in the room". That "elephant" is the Mosaic Law adhered to by both observant Jews and Christians alike. (I can't speak about Muslims, since I don't know enough about, e.g., the Koran.) That Law (not suggestion) is that marriage (as I understand it, anyway) is a binding contract only between a loving man and woman. Only then can it be holy in the sight of God. Ireland should not follow the 'slippery slope' of, e.g., the USA. Or was the so-called Catholicism in Ireland only skin-deep, as so many have always believed?
dingle999 | Jul 02, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT
cillowen are you talking about Romney ?