“I think same-sex couples should be able to get married” – these ten simple words spoken by US President Barack Obama recently have reverberated around the world and provided a watershed moment in the evolution of civil rights for lesbians and gay men.
President Obama’s message sent out a very strong signal of inclusion, of value, and of support to lesbian and gay people everywhere and in particular to young gay people.
The New York Times wrote how many people consider same-sex marriage as “the last civil rights movement,” and that the President’s endorsement was a recognition that “the forces of history appear to be changing.” Mr Obama’s support provides “the most powerful evidence to date of how rapidly views are moving on an issue that was politically toxic just five years ago,” it continued.
President Obama spoke of the evolution of his thinking on civil marriage for gay couples. There has been a parallel rapid evolution here and Ireland has made huge progress in evolving towards civil marriage for same-sex couples.
‘Civil partnership was the stepping stone towards same-sex marriage…’
For Ireland to move to marriage now is not a massive legislative leap; it is an incremental step building on the powerful 2011 Civil Partnership legislation. With the singular exception of parenting (where reform is urgently needed), civil partnership provides almost all of the responsibilities and rights of civil marriage.
Ironically, our civil partnership legislation provides more rights than US state-based civil marriage because the latter cannot include federal rights in critical areas such as immigration, tax and health benefits.
In nearly all other countries that now have civil marriage, it was on the basis of civil partnership providing the ‘stepping stone’.
Support for civil marriage has grown, with the latest opinion poll by Red C showing that 73% of Irish voters support civil marriage for same sex-couples. There is already all-party consensus on the issue with Fianna Fáil most recently voting in favour of civil marriage for all. Fine Gael took similar steps at its recent Ard-Fheis.
Equally the introduction of Civil Partnership in April last year has had a transformative effect on social attitudes and the status of gay people in our society. In the nine months from April 2011 to the end of the year, more than 500 couples went to their Registry Offices in all counties and before the Registrar solemnly affirmed their love and commitment to one another. Interestingly, this figure includes people from Ireland and 58 other countries.
These legal commitments are then followed by joyful wedding celebrations where family, friends, colleagues and neighbours give their affirmation of the profound legal commitment the couple have just given to one another.
I would suggest that the people of Ireland have spoken in this open hearted welcoming of civil partnerships, and are saying we are entitled to marry. All those lesbian and gay couples who have publicly celebrated their civil partnerships have brought the day of civil marriages much, much closer.
The right to marry is a fundamental human right
The Government-appointed Colley Group, of which Eoin Collins of GLEN was a member, recommended as far back as 2006 that civil marriage for same-sex couples was the ultimate equality option. Their report makes the powerful point that:
The introduction of civil marriage for same – sex couples would achieve equality of status with opposite sex couples and such recognition that would underpin a wider equality for gay and lesbian people
For example, the introduction of full Constitutional equality would be another great signal and support for young people who are coming out – perhaps feeling isolated and vulnerable to bullying in school – that this State says that they are equally cherished under our Constitution.
The right to marry is a fundamental human right as set out in the UN Charter of Human Rights and other human rights treaties. The fact that our Constitution and its provisions relating to marriage have to date been interpreted by the Courts to exclude same-sex couples from this fundamental human right is deeply regrettable.
Most recently, the High Court in 2006 rejected Senator Katherine Zappone and Anna Louise Gilligan’s case to have their Canadian marriage recognised here. The judge quoted legal precedent that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. The appeal will be held in the Supreme Court later in June.
While such a Constitutional barrier is in force, lesbians and gay men will not have full equality under our Constitution.
In a democratic republic based on equal citizenship, civil marriage should be open to all citizens, including lesbians and gay men.
* Kieran Rose is the Chair of GLEN, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network.
The column “It’s time for Ireland to follow Obama on gay marriage. Here’s why” was originally published on Journal.ie.
23 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.bfg9000 | Jun 01, 2012, 08:37 PM EDT
Ha! American haters must be blowing steam through their nostrils! Not only their president is black, now he's also on the verge of becoming a gay icon. Way to go, Obie! I'm surprised this cause gained such exposure in Ireland though, considering how strong catholicism is in this country. @judiron: Taking away?! Where did you get that? @PiperMac52: "Marriage was made a sacred trust by Christ himself." Really? So, people didn't marry before JC? "Many have become so blinded by years of indoctrination (...)that they have lost the ability to reason and see the truth." That's priceless coming from someone so obviously ruled by religious beliefs! "This will ultimately lead to demands for bigamy, Incest" Yeah, yeah, and marijuana will lead you to heroin, and masturbation will lead you to rape. Oh, and don't listen to rock'n'roll or you will end a thug. What did you say again about the ability to reason?
beachcomber | Jun 01, 2012, 03:15 PM EDT
Bythebay, thanks for the explanation. Perhaps it's time to remove some of the religion from the government, as it doesn't seem to be helping anything, anywhere.
judiron | Jun 01, 2012, 03:00 PM EDT
I think the Irish people should make the decision not Obama. He's taking away all the American people's rights so beware. Do not trust or follow him on anything.
hollabackgurl | Jun 01, 2012, 02:34 PM EDT
Let's unpack your frankly stupid phrase 'genital narcissists', which I assume you coined yourself, because it exists nowhere in contemporary psychoanalysis IrelandNorth. Do you ignore your own genitals, IrelandNorth? The implication from your silly coinage is that heterosexuals don't think about theirs - leaving the feild to gays. Do you ignore your partners genitals? Do you have a partner? Have they ever had genitals? Do you spend all your time on the internet writing posts about gay people's genitals? Have you ever examined that impulse or asked yourself why you are exercised by gay people's genitals?
Bythebay | Jun 01, 2012, 09:12 AM EDT
The Irish Government will decide this matter. The Irish people favor it. Irish Central doesn't speak for Ireland or affect what Ireland does.
IrelandNorth | Jun 01, 2012, 07:32 AM EDT
The vast majority of people in any given society are not as preoccupied with their genitality as homosexuals appear to be. Like all genital narcissists, Mr Rose is very adept at promoting his cause by cashing in on the popularity of US peresidents in Ireland. Keep it in the closet - girls!
EamonnDublin | Jun 01, 2012, 03:51 AM EDT
"Irish Central" has obviously ceased even pretending to be a newspaper, and is unreservedly and unashamedly pushing a very narrow agenda. This article is just another example. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.
irishpjk | May 31, 2012, 11:42 PM EDT
It is all very simple the word marriage has always meant man and woman, and to most of us always will. The same with the words wife and husband father and mother. You can call a snowball a rock if it is frozen hard enough but put both out in the and see what you have after little while.
hollabackgurl | May 31, 2012, 10:39 PM EDT
The US is not a theocracy. If your religion tells you it's a sin to eat pork, don't eat pork. Don't make a law so no one can eat pork. If your religion tells you certain homosexual acts are a sin, don't have gay sex - or join a church where you are not condemned. But don't make a law so no one can have a gay marriage. If you do want to live in a theocracy, move to Iran.
hollabackgurl | May 31, 2012, 09:22 PM EDT
And what makes Obama an authority on Marriage?? Marriage between two of the same gender is impossible - they can call it what they like. Physically impossible. Marriage is not just a wedding, party, flowers, exchange of words etc. etc. It is a union of two biologically complimentary genders. It has been so since the beginning of humanity. The formalizing developed as everything else developed over time with education and the understanding the value of marriage. Especially as marriage forms the cornerstone of security in society for Mothers and Fathers to rear their children. Governments are not the controllers of human life, they are simply the means to the orderly functioning of society. Behind all this nonsense of same gender everything lies the sinister population controller movement and that explains the connection to abortion. Whenever the anti-life crowd turned up to protest pro-life conferences the homosexual/lesbian activists would be there too. Dig into U.N. Population files, WHO, UNICEF, Emily's List, Status of Women, etc. the links are undeniable. The barrenness of homosexual 'marriage' suits the population controllers. Hence Obama and his ilk push for it. Lay off Mr. Obama, marriage is NOT your property.
seanomelbourne | May 31, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT
Cheney only had time for gays when his daughter came out. His support of gay marriage is commendable but his daughter helped change his mind on gay marriage.The problem with the majority GOP position is they want to set the rules for everyone in marriage women's choice or health care,they believe the constitution should be written(or changed) in their image only and to hell with the rights of others.
Seanmor | May 31, 2012, 06:06 PM EDT
The 3rd paragraph quotes "The New York Times" on same-sex marriage as foolows' "the last civil rights movement". That quote reminds one of the position held on same-sex marriage (and abortion) by Alveda King, niece of the most famous civil rights leader the world has ever known. Alveda King is very supportive of marrriages betweeen one man and one woman - also very protective of the unborn. If the Irish state should pass legislation that permits same-sex marriages, in order for such a law to be more respectable, ordained clergy should be compelled to officiate at such marriage ceremonies, even if it violates the tenets of their religion.
Dubnorth | May 31, 2012, 05:46 PM EDT
Great to see Barrack follow the lead of Dick Cheney, who came out in favor of gay marriage 3 years ago. Where was Barrack and his hand puppet Joe Biden then. Come to think of it where was the media then?
PiperMac52 | May 31, 2012, 05:15 PM EDT
Is there no moral conscience left? Do you not see the slippery slope we are on? Whether or not you take Sacred Scripture as Christ's inspired word, even in a secular sense which eschews all things religious,God himself and subsequently, his teachings, one just has to view the history of mankind and every civilization to understand that natural law is written on the heart by the Creator. Marriage was made a sacred trust by Christ himself. It can only be between a man and a woman and open to bringing life into the world. Many have become so blinded by years of indoctrination into a debased, amoral culture that they have lost the ability to reason and see the truth. This will ultimately lead to demands for bigamy, Incest, and God only know where it will all end. Sadly, Ireland the land of St. Patrick has abandoned it's true identity.
aloistmartin | May 31, 2012, 04:59 PM EDT
Why of Course ! Like Immigration, Church Reform, and the Euro, It`s Good for Business !
pounder | May 31, 2012, 04:48 PM EDT
This site is very gay-centric......mmmmmm.
alisaann | May 31, 2012, 03:33 PM EDT
it needs to have ALL THE SAME RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS....including parenting/adoption....let's leave religion OUT of it....because marriage is about LOVE, NOT religion....and we shouldn't make laws according to the bible. alisa
seanskelligs | May 31, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
What a rubbish and ill informed article. There has been no 'transformative effect' on the status of Gay persons. Nopt only is it a short step to legislation it is profundly impossible to such an extent a referendum would be required. Notwithstanding the propaganda there is nowhere near 73% of people in favour and less than 73% even have a vote! There was supposed to be 70% according to polls in favour of divorce yet it was rejected by 70%. When rerun 11 years later it passed by less than 8000 people in a vote of 1,000,000 notwithstanding polls (we were told) giving almost 80% support.There is no joyful wedding celebrations as suggested- in Irish Law there is no wedding. It is suggested 500 couples who registered their status is an indication of a change in attitude-that is less than 20 couples per county and less than 1% of mariages!!!Similarly Obama merely expressed an opinion which does not change the fact that gay marriage has been rejected by 37 States. A referendum was held in liberal California where the people rejected it, The gay community then went to court to argue the people should not have been asked the question in the first place!!!
Bythebay | May 31, 2012, 03:10 PM EDT
It's been agreed Ireland will have gay marriage in future.
Bythebay | May 31, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT
beachcomber, it wasn't the Catholic Church per se that required the 5 years for divorce in Ireland, it was the Irish Government, the majority of whom of course were trained by the Catholic Church. You can get an Order of Nullity to end the marriage, it won't split property or money of course. Otherwise you can go to another EU country, establish residency there and get divorced according to their laws and then return to Ireland. Those interested should speak with a solicitor about their options.
phinsman | May 31, 2012, 12:39 PM EDT
I am not gay, but completely agree with President Obama. Scientists have done research on the cause of LGBT and it has to do with the hormones in the mother's body when she is pregnant. None of these people who are LGBT have an option to change themselves... it is who they are, and they should have the same rights to marriage as we have. There is no reason why anyone should bully or make fun of those who are LGBT... it wasn't their choice... that is the way they were born.
montour | May 31, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
my age is 73 gay and happy to be who i am, I LOVE MY PRESIDENT, born in philadelphia pa. usa. of irish and swedish ancestry both grandmothers married irish catholics. i hope ireland follows the path of my president
beachcomber | May 31, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT
If the UN says its a human right to be able to get married, how do they feel about divorce? I only ask because, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the Catholic church still imposes a five year waiting period to get divorced in Ireland? Can someone please explain it to me? I know no one gets married thinking they will ever get divorced but the sad truth is that it happens quite a bit, and when it does, people shouldn't be "punished" and put their lives on hold for five whole years, instead of being able to stitch the wound and move on in a timely fashion. I know this probably isn't the proper place to leave this, but I really am curious...equal rights are a wonderful idea, but the church isn't being equal, and apparently it still has some pull on the state.