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.
