Civil Marriage NOT Civil Partnership!

Recently we have seen a Civil Partnership bill passed in the dáil. Granted a step towards equality but not WHOLE equality.. Marriage equality is a massive issue which affects gay people all over Ireland and Britain. The fact is, THERE IS NONE!!!

When Westminister passed law, enabling same sex couples to receive a Civil Partnership, the pro government media greeted this with great enthusiasm, and each and every magazine scrapped for the photographic rights to the Civil Partnership ceremony of Elton John. The Civil Partnership Bill was greeted with great enthusiasm- finally marriage for same sex couples was the general view from the voting public. It was seen as a positive step. I myself, was guilty of believing that this was finally equality for same sex couples.

The fact is, Civil Partnerships are a far cry from marriage equality! It is in fact true that elderly siblings can take out a Civil Partnership, to protect their inheritances and next of kin status!

Marriage is a beautiful thing. After all, it is a magical thing to see two people who love each other, commit their lives to each other…isn’t it??!! The bonds of matrimony are one of the strongest bonds which can formed between two people, second only, in this writer’s opinion, to that of a child and parent.

So why is it that same sex couples cannot receive these bonds? Is our society still so polarised that we still believe that the only ‘natural’ relationships are heterosexual relationships?? These were the points raised to me by the nervous bride moments before she took the plunge. She told me of her desire of a white wedding, the traditional sort. Fairly common desire for women I think. One male witness expressed his belief that matrimony is about the love between two people. I think its safe to say that love is not just confined to heterosexual sections of society, that it is a HUMAN EMOTION!!

Of course it is!! So why can same sex couples, even if its just for one day, experience the same thrills as a heterosexual couple?? Why can’t a gay bride to be have her dream of a white wedding??!! The issue of heterosexual marriages and relationships was never an election issue, or a political kite for the likes of Tony Blair and Brian Cowen to fly!! Why should same sex relationships come under such scrutiny, and be a tool for political point scoring??!! The reason, in my humble opinion, is that without inequality, the elite, be they clergymen, businessmen or politicians, would not have ANY of the comforts they now take for granted. My comrades all over Ireland in the LGBT movement now confide in me that it is also a human right, rather than a heterosexual right, to want to start a family. The nature versus nurture debate will definitely be a lengthly one, but surely in the face of all that is said, a nurturing childhood is more preferable to a natural one!

My friends, OUR revolution will NEVER be complete until we the youth take the last shreds of inequality out and strangle them with the entrails of bigotry, hate, sectarianism, and racism!

The gay people are our builders, our teachers, our doctors, our nurses, and all the other people we turn to when we need help. They DESERVE equality. It is up to Ógra Shinn Féin and Sinn Féin to demand that they get it!! Visit www.marriageequality.ie for more info.

Out of the closet and onto the streets!

Belfast city August 2nd 2008. 6,000 people march on the streets of Belfast to celebrate gay pride. Arriving at 12pm, a party atmosphere was already building and it was clear that we were in for a good day, especially with a fine appearance from the usually anonymous sun! Gays. lesbeans and trangendered gathered there to enjoy the craic, have a day out, but most of all, to celebrate their individuality! A topic on many people's lips was the recent controversial comments made by DUP MP MLA, and chair of Stormont health committee, Iris Robinson. Many people seemed buoyed to turn out in their numbers to show solidairty, and to show the mentioned bigot, dubbed wicked witch of the north for the day, that her comments will NEVER deter the sterling work done by Belfast gay pride. I was handed a red ribbon, signifying that I oppose the stigmata attached to persons who are HIV positive (I would have rathered a tshirt but can't complain!) as this is a major issue amongst the gay community, and definately something which needs to be tackled. Perhaps the health committee chair could take a leading role?!
Even the rain, when it made a brief appearance, did little to deter the marchers' enthusiasm, and they just blew their whistles louder! Small clutches of protestors waved signs quoting bible phrase, but they were shown the detest they deserved by the marches, who were mainly applauded by the ordianry citizens of Belfast. Some controversy last year about a banner saying 'Jesus is a fag', thankfully did not repeat itself.
Back to the square and a large party ensues. I let down my hair, knowing that I have played the important part, and my journalistic skills need not be fine tuned to summarise the carnival! I met with many people, some even admitting to me that it was their first time at pride, and having a great time teasing me about my southern accent!
Success! I get my euros changed and I'm staying on for a MASSIVE party. The rest is a blur!

Would I go back next year? DEFINATELY!!

Bastille Day

Today, July 14th, is a national holiday in France to celebrate the events of July 14th 1789, a day known as Bastille Day. The events of this day, triggered the ensuing events of the French Revolution, under the banner of Fraternity, Liberty and Equality. It is also accurate to state that the events of the French Revolution, inspired Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen to rise up in rebellion against the British occupation of Ireland. On Bastille Day, the ordinary people of France stormed the prison and released all those held within its walls. The conditions in the Bastille were horrendous, with prisoners sharing cells with all kinds of vermin, and being subjected to daily incidents of torture. For ordinary people to overcome soldiers and take over such a fortress, it is a HUGE feet, and one which is rightly remembered by the French people today. Whilst the aristocracy of France lived in the lap of luxury, the citizens lived in squalor straving because of rotten food. The French Revolution created the first great republic. However, it was soon forgotten by the ruling class of the First French Republic and subsequent French 'Republics' (There have been 5 in total).

This is why, as a Republican, I remember Bastille Day. The subsequent Revolution and creation of a French empire, remind me of who I am. I am reminded that even when we gain a 32 county republic in Ireland, we must set about creating a Socialist Republic of equals, where catholic, protestant and dissenter live together equally in harmony. As Connolly said, 'If you remove the English flag tomorrow, and don't go about creating a socialist republic of equals, England will still rule you through her landlords and capitalists' (forgive the inaccuracy of my quoting skills!) I m humbled to be told that the Irish struggle is an awe inspiring struggle for many international people, and to think that I am playing my very small part. I am also reminded of the words of Che Guevara, in which he described the most beautiful quality of a revolutionary, is the ability to see repression in other lands. I reaffirm my belief, on Bastille Day, that I, as an Irish Republican, will NEVER be free, until all those who share my goal throughout the world, recevie their Socialist liberation.

On to victory!!

Tiocfaidh ár lá!

An Internationalist Perspective

They say hindsight is a wonderful thing. Why in the name of all that is humane do world leaders not think about it?! Watching a House of Commons Q&A session with Gordon Brown, I noted the amount of MPs who were calling on peers to honour the memories of more British troops killed in Afghanistan. A death, no matter what side it's on, is nothing to celebrate, especially as tragic as a young person with a lot of potential. I was quite taken aback, however, that not one peer called for a withdrawal from Afghanistan! Surely now, the way to avoid more deaths is to take troops. armed to the teeth, out of the country! Similarly, in Iraq, one problem that was kept under control by Saddam was the scetarian killings we seem to be seeing on a daily basis now! If the American and British leaders claim that they invaded these countries to depose dictatorial regimes, can they explain the amount of bloodshed we see in the news on a daily basis?! If democracy is their goal, then why don't they invade Zimbabwe to depose the bloodstained rule of Robert Mugabe? The reason is, simply, because people like Mugabe were put into power by America and Britain, as they suited their neo-capitalist agendas. Can somebody please email me a picture of Queen Elizabeth II with a red neck on her. After all, didn't she award Mugabe with a KNIGHTHOOD!! Removing a knighthood, now that'll surely deter Mugabe's bloodlust! He's been removed from thay exclusive club which contains other dictators and despots such as Sir Mike Jackson, the man who reigned over the British Army occupation of the North of Ireland. Does Whitehall really think that by refusing to play a game of cricket against Zimbabwe, that the dictatorial regime will fall?! The greatest white elephant in the world, the UN will never do anything but sit and talk. The League of Nations crumbled and collapsed after it was clear it was a failure, why so do we still have, after 60 years, the UN?! Ireland is said to be in recession now, so why do us taxpayers still fund this white elephant?! Why has Brian Cowen cut our overseas aid by €45million, denying the people who REALLY need it and putting childrens' lives at risk, whilst he wastes BILLIONS on diplomacy and niceities. Why do Irish troops now occupy a country which has split up because of a colonial war?! Any right thinking person would say we've had 800 years enough of colonial wars!! It is time to put the myth of international terrorism, that Bush and Brown wave over our heads to keep us in a submissive state of fear, as in fact the real terrorists, and those who finance terrorism, are those who sit at the UN, those who dip their hands in the pool of blood being shed in Iraq, Ireland is one of those, and the G8, who talk about increasing aid to €50 billion, but instead spend it on the much needed caviar and champagne they so urgently require at their summits.