My country is about to be tested. In less than twenty days I will know if the Ireland I live in is the country I believe it to be. I will know if we live in a society of inclusion and equality, or if in fact we remain the country of ignorance and bigotry we used to be.
On May 22nd we will vote as a nation to decide if same sex marriage will be given equal status with heterosexual marriage.
The campaign has got dirty, with the ‘no’ side clouding the issue with talk of children’s rights and 
fathers rights. Their argument is unnecessary as many gay and lesbian couples already have children, so the point of their argument makes no sense.
My children are passionate about this vote. Never before have I seen them so animated. Their uncle, my brother, is gay with a lovely partner. They are together seventeen years. I don’t know if they will marry, or if they even wish to marry, but I will fight hard to give them the right to. The very idea that my brother who grew up by my side, should not be allowed by the laws of the land I love, to marry, is ridiculous to me.
As the date comes ever closer I am becoming more anxious. What if the ‘no’ vote win? How will I feel living in a country I’m ashamed of? How will I feel for the hurt my brother, his partner and thousands will feel?
I can only hope that there is no need for my fingers to be crossed and that those I live my life alongside everyday will do the right thing. Hopefully come May 23rd I’ll be standing tall and shouting from the rooftops…I’m Irish and proud!
photo credit: CarbonNYC via photopin cc
photo credit:
My thoughts on a page. 
I love that: “Marriage predates Christianity it’s not yours to define.”
Its a great quote alright.
I’m putting my faith in the right outcome being achieved. Colm O’Gorman was his usual impressive self on Friday night’s debate. Roisin Ingle had a lovely piece in yesterday’s Irish Times that will be more effective in appealing to those on the fence than the idiotic name-calling from the liberal side. Sometimes there is no fool like a demented liberal one. It’s a piece well-worth reading, if you haven’t already.
In the US we are also slowly making progress. So strange to me that any government thinks its their role to regulate who we love. Really?
Fingers crossed every where I’m sure Tric. Ireland, I believe, could have a huge impact on changing the world. For the better. Come on Ireland!!!! You can do this!
fingers crossed here too –
I really do not appreciate the No side’s campaign. Not at all. I keep thinking of the children who are already being raised by same-sex parents and how they must be feeling. Like that young woman in the Late late audience. If they’re thinking of children then they should think of ALL children.
A great point, and like yourself I just can’t understand it at all.
I hope that the vote will result in marriage equality, but, if it does go the other way, remember that it won’t be the last word. In the US so far, this has gone state by state and has happened different ways in different states, through votes, court ruling, or legislation. Some states that previously had voted against marriage equality now have equal marriage. While I hope that Ireland’s path will be quick and straightforward with this vote, I think that equality and justice will always win out over time.
I struggle so much with the ‘slow-wheels’ of politics, justice etc.!
BUT – to me, the positive flip side of “I’m ashamed of (insert my country, my church, my political party, my local Board, my culture etc.) Is –
“Hmm… maybe there are some in my circle who do not understand how negatively this way of thinking affects so very many people who are either those they love or related to those they love”…. 🙂
Kudos to you for sharing and giving people an opportunity to see how public policy, voted for today, may just end up hurting someone they love and care about – tomorrow 🙂
(Disclaimer – This from a perspective of, “Often, unless you have a great imagination, are a history buff and/or possess a writer’s soul, the paths traversed by others aren’t always made clear to you, until you realize IT happened to you or someone you care about.”
Hope it goes as you’re hoping for and if not, here’s to taking another run at changing it in the future! 🙂
A significant minority will vote No. Just the way of the world but I think the majority will carry the Yes side to victory and the youth vote will be huge as well. All positive signs and I think if it does go through then Ireland becomes the first country to legalise same sex marriage by popular vote. I think a lot of eyes will be on Ireland for this one.