LGBT Noise Ralley, Saturday 28th May 2008, Gaity Theatre

With Regards the Civil Partnerships Bill LGBT Noise will be organising a rally on Saturday protesting against the move which they argue does not go far enough.

LGBT Noise are holding a Rally for Equality this Saturday to tell the government
we don't want civil partnership. We demand civil marriage. Come and let your
voice be heard. Saturday at 2pm opposite the Gaiety Theatre near Stephens Green Shopping Centre.Tell one, tell all!!

Below is a copy of their Press release on the CPB Heads.

Dear Noisey people,
Below is the text of the press release provided by Noise in response to the sudden publication of the 'Heads of Bill' of the new Civil Partnership Bill 2008. The Heads of Bill can be examined ; http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/General_Scheme_of_Civil_Partnership_Bill
(BEWARE; A convoluted 172 pages in order to to create an up-graded second-class
citizenship)NOISE is disappointed that the government has decided to ignore repeated calls for the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage and haspressed on with its decision to offer only limited civil partnershiprights to gay and lesbian people.
Says Communications Officer, Eloise Mc Inerney, 'Civil partnershipwill create an unequal and apartheid institution for gay and lesbianpeople. It will continue to treat their relationships as separate andinferior in the eyes of the law and it will not protect the rights ofthe children they are raising. Neither will it offer the constitutional guarantees granted to the family based on marriage. In offering this pale substitute for full marriage, the government are basically saying that gay and lesbian people, and their families, are not full citizens of the Irish republic.'
Over the past 2 years, there has been consistent majority support forlifting the ban on same-sex marriage in Ireland, with recent pollsplacing this support at around
60%. In addition, 86% of people agreethat children raised by gay and lesbian
parents should have the samerights and protections as children raised by
heterosexual parents.Even the government's own Colley report found in 2006 that
marriagewas the only equality option for gay and lesbian families.
The government has been hiding behind a claim that same-sex marriage will
beunconstitutional, but nowhere in the constitution is marriage definedas being
between a man and a woman. It is for the Supreme Court, and not the government,
to decide on matters of constitutionality. Noise calls on the government to lift the ban on same-sex marriagenow, and give gay and lesbian couples and families the same rights asother Irish citizens.

VIA: Noise Press Release 25/6/2008.

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Heads of the Civil Partnerships Bill 2008

Image via Wikipedia

Alright most of you will be aware at this stage within the LGBT circles at least that this afternoon a certain Heads of Bill was published. Those of you who are regular readers of this particular blog(1. Whining you say, 2. A Plea for the extension of Civil Marriage, 3. Launch of MarriagEquality) will be aware of my own opinions on this issue. I believe that there should be a plethora of relationship type recognitions, including Civil marriage, Civil Partnership, Civil unions. I further believe that this should be extended to all members of Irish society, Heterosexual or Homosexual or Trans.

On a First glance, the Heads of the CP Bill appear to cover everything which I expected it to cover.

• registration,
• Head 50: Declarations as to civil partnership status.
  Provide that:
  “(1) The court may, on application to it in that behalf by either of the civil partners concerned or by any other person who, in the opinion of the court, has a sufficient interest in the matter, by order make one or more of the following declarations in relation to a civil partnership, that is to say:
  ( a ) a declaration that the civil partnership was at its inception a valid civil partnership,
  ( b ) a declaration that the civil partnership subsisted on a date specified in the application,
  ( c ) a declaration that the civil partnership did not subsist on a date so specified, not being the date of the inception of the civil partnership,
  (d ) a declaration that the validity of a dissolution of a civil partnership, annulment or legal separation obtained under the civil law of any other country or jurisdiction in respect of the civil partnership is not entitled to recognition in the State.
  
• recognition of equivalent relationships from abroad
• Head 52: Recognition of foreign relationships
  Provide that:
  “(1) The Minister may, by order, declare that a class of legal relationship entered by two parties of the same sex shall be entitled to be recognised as a civil partnership if under the law of the jurisdiction in which the legal relationship was entered –
  (a)
  the legal relationship is exclusive in nature,
  (b)
  the relationship is permanent unless the parties dissolve the relationship through the courts,
  (c)
  the legal relationship is confined to couples of the same sex or of the opposite sex, and couples of the same sex entering the legal relationship may not be within the forbidden degrees of relationship to each other,
  (d)
  the rights and obligations attendant on the relationship, in the opinion of the Minister, are sufficient to indicate that the relationship is of a comparable status with a civil partnership.
  (2) The Minister shall consult with An tArd-Chláraitheoir prior to making an order under subsection (1).
  (3) An order under subsection (1) shall entitle and oblige the parties to such a legal relationship to be treated as civil partners under the law of the State from
  (a) the date of making of the order, or
  (b) the date of entering the relationship,
  whichever is the later.
  (4) Notice of an order under subsection (1) shall be provided to the Oireachtas in the usual way, and shall also be provided to –
  (a) an tArd-Chláraitheoir,
  (b) INIS,
  (c) the Revenue Commissioners, and
  (d) the Department of Social and Family Affairs.”
  
• immigration:
  

• Head 28: Immigration
  Provide that for the purposes of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008,
  “member of the family” and “dependent”, in relation to a person, includes a person with whom the first named person is registered in a civil partnership, provided that the civil partnership subsists at the relevant time.
  The relevant provisions are in sections 36 and 50 of that Bill.
  Provide for
  the making of provisions paralleling those relating to marriage of foreign nationals [in section 123 of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008] in relation to registering civil partnerships.

• Succession:

• Head 29: Succession
  Provide that the Succession Act is amended:
  (1)
  in section 3 (1) after the definition of “administrator” by the insertion of “civil partner” has the meaning assigned to it by Head 2 of the Civil Partnership Act [2008];
  (2)
  in section 3(1) by the substitution of the definition of “legal right” with the following:
  “legal right” means
  a.
  the right of a spouse under section 111 to a share in the estate of a deceased person;
  b.
  the right of a civil partner under section 111A to a share in the estate of a deceased person
  (3)
  By the insertion in section 56 after each occurrence of the word “spouse” of the words “or civil partner”, and cognate expressions to be construed accordingly;
  (4)
  By the insertion in section 58 (6) after the word “spouse” of “or civil partner”.
  (5)
  By the insertion after section 67 of a provision conferring on a civil partner of a deceased who dies intestate the same share as a spouse of an intestate deceased subject to the rights of a former spouse and ensuring that the rights of children of the deceased are respected;
  (6)
  By the insertion in section 68 of “nor civil partner” after “spouse”;
  (7)
  By the insertion in section 69 of “nor civil partner” after each occurrence of the word “spouse”;
  (8)
  By the insertion in section 70 of “nor civil partner” after “spouse”;
  (9)
  By the insertion in section 82 of “or civil partner” after “spouse”;
  (10)
  By the insertion in section 83 of “or civil partner” after “spouse”;
  (11)
  By the insertion in section 85 of “or registration in a civil partnership” after each occurrence of “marriage”;
  (12)
  By the insertion in the title of Part IX of “, or civil partner” after “spouse”;
  (13)
  By the insertion in section 109 (1) of “or civil partner” after each occurrence of the word “spouse”;
  (14)
  By the insertion after section 111 of a new section 111A conferring on a civil partner of a testator a right to the estate of the deceased the same as the right of a spouse subject to the rights of a former spouse and ensuring that the rights of children of the deceased are respected;
  (15)
  By the insertion in section 112 after the words “section 111” of “or the right of a civil partner under section 111A”;
  (16)
  By the insertion of a new section 113A:
  “The legal right of a civil partner may be renounced in an ante-registration contract made in writing between the parties to an intended civil partnership or may be renounced in writing by the civil partner after registration in a civil partnership and during the lifetime of the testator.”
  (17)
  By the insertion in section 114 of “or civil partner” after each occurrence of the word “spouse”;
  (18)
  By the insertion in section 115 other than in subsection (6) of that section of “or civil partner” after each occurrence of the word “spouse”;
  (19)
  By the insertion after subsection (2) of section 120 of a new subsection 2A:
  40
  “(2A) Where a civil partner has deserted his or her civil partner for two years or more and that desertion has continued up to the death of the deceased, the first-named civil partner shall be precluded from taking any share in the estate of the deceased as a legal right or on intestacy”;
  (20)
  By the insertion in section 120(4) of “or the civil partner” after the word “spouse”;
  (21)
  By the insertion in section 121 of “or civil partner” after each occurrence of the word “spouse”.
  
  

  
  
• dissolution

• Head 14: Registration of decrees of dissolution.
  Provide along the following lines:
  “(1) When a court grants a decree of dissolution, an officer of the Courts Service authorised in that behalf by the Courts Service, shall, as soon as may be, enter or cause to be entered in the register of decrees of dissolution the particulars in relation to the matter specified in Part 6A of the First Schedule as inserted by Head 22.
  (2) When a court grants a decree of nullity, an officer of the Courts Service, authorised in that behalf by the Courts Service, shall, as soon as may be, enter or cause to be entered in the register of decrees of nullity the particulars in relation to the matter specified in Part 7A of the First Schedule as inserted by Head 22.
  (3) An officer of the Courts Service, authorised in that behalf by the Courts Service, may amend or cancel or cause to be amended or cancelled an entry in a register referred to in subsection (1) or (2).
  (4) The Courts Service shall notify an tArd-Chláraitheoir of an amendment or cancellation under subsection (3).
  (5) This section shall have effect notwithstanding any statutory provision that conflicts with it.”

  
  
• maintenance, support and shared homes

• Head 26: Pensions
  Provide that where a contingent or survivor’s benefit or pension is provided by an employer or by a pension scheme for the spouse of a person, equivalent benefits must be provided for a registered civil partner.

• Head 34: Shared Home
  Provide that:
  “(1) In this Act "shared home" means, primarily, a dwelling in which registered civil partners ordinarily reside. The expression comprises, in addition, a dwelling in which a civil partner whose protection is in issue ordinarily resides or, if that civil partner has left the other civil partner, ordinarily resided before so leaving.
  (2) In subsection (1), 'dwelling' means any building or part of a building occupied as a separate dwelling and includes any garden or other land usually occupied with the dwelling, being land that is subsidiary and ancillary to it, is required for amenity or convenience and is not being used or developed primarily for commercial purposes, and includes a structure that is not permanently attached to the ground and a vehicle, or vessel, whether mobile or not, occupied as a separate dwelling.”
  

Ok well the obvious ones which it does not deal with is Adoption and Children. As this is a Any Sex document there will be parents entering into these CP's and their Children will not have as much protections as those children in a married relationship. Will this be dealt with it in the forthcoming Adoptions Bill 2008? I don't believe so.

Second point: Instead of producing a 175 page heads of Bill, which lists amendments to every significant piece of Irish legislation which deals with relationships, a simple amendment to the Civil Registrations Act 2004, to allow for a gender neutral version of marriage would have been just as easily done.

Am I happy with it. No. Is it a start.Yes. Just like a lot of things, "Could do better" does apply. It does not mean however I will be giving up a campaign for the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage. But they had better hurry the *bleep* on and push it through the house before they forget about it....or the yogurt will get the better of them....

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MarriagEquality Conference in TCD

A quick note from MarriagEquality about an upcoming conference which is being organised in Trinity.

The Irish School of Ecumenics is holding a two-day conference this month on 'Why Marriage? Love and Justice in 21st Century Ireland'. The conference provides a framework for Christians to move towards an understanding and acceptance of same-sex unions and marriages.

The response to the conference has been very positive to-date and with only one week to go, members of the public are invited to attend the public debate on Wednesaday 21st May or to reserve a place for the all-day seminar on Thursday 22nd.

On the first day, Wednesday 21 May, there will be a public lecture on 'Equality and Just Love: A Framework for a Christian Ethic' by Professor Margaret Farley of Yale Divinity School. It will take place in the Walton Theatre, Arts Block, TCD, at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

The next day, Thursday 22, there will be an all-day seminar in IIIS Seminar Room, Level 6, TCD A rts Building, beginning at 9.30am. The seminar sessions will examine same-sex marriage from theological, legal and ecclesiastical perspectives. Seminar places are very limited, so booking is essential. The booking form can be downloaded from the ISE website, http://www.tcd.ie/ise/news/events.php.

About the visiting Professor
Professor Emeritus Margaret Farley of Yale Divinity school is the keynote speaker at the event and author of several books including 'Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics.

Farley has written more than 90 articles on topics such as celibacy, AIDS and faith, divorce, feminism and embryonic stem cell research and how they relate to religion. In addition, she has lectured on these topics in communities across the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Professort Farley will provide a framework that allows for the acceptance of same-sex unions and marriages within the Christian community.

We hop e to see you there.

Moninne Griffith

Coordinator

MarriagEquality

Growing Support for Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

MARRIAGEQUALITY

Civil Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

For release: 31 March 2008

Growing Support for Marriage for Gay and Lesbian People

– New National Poll

Over twice as many Irish people favour civil marriage over civil partnership for gay and lesbian people Lansdowne poll shows

A new poll shows an increase in the number of people who believe that gay and lesbian people should be allowed to marry rather than just form civil partnerships, as currently proposed by the Government.

The national poll, which was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research for MarriagEquality, shows that 58% of people are of the view that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in a registry office, and less than half that number, 26%, are of the view that they should be allowed to form civil partnerships but not marry.

This indicates a swing towards civil marriage since a poll carried out in November 2006, again by Lansdowne for the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN). Then, 51% of respondents agreed that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry and 33% agreed that they should be allowed to form civil partnerships only.

The new MarriagEquality poll also shows that six out of 10 people (61%) agree that it is unfair that gay and lesbian people are excluded from getting married in a registry office. In addition, an overwhelming 86% of people agree that children of gay and lesbian parents should have the same family rights as other children.

According to Grainne Healy, co-chair of MarriagEquality, the latest poll is evidence of a consistent emerging demand amongst Irish people for full equality for gay and lesbian people. MarriagEquality is working for civil marriage for gay and lesbian people.

“We have been saying that there is a demand for marriage equality for gay and lesbian people. This national poll, carried out by an independent research company, is data based proof of our own anecdotal evidence,” said Healy.

“Significantly, it underlines a consistent and positive trend over two years. When we compare these results with previous research and polls carried out since February 2006 we see that attitudes have stayed consistent, that they are positive and growing in support.”

…./2

The Government is proposing to introduce draft legislation on civil partnership soon after the Dail resumes this Wednesday. Civil partnership is not civil marriage. It will create a separate but unequal institution for gay and lesbian couples. According to Healy, this latest poll indicates that the people may be ahead of Government thinking on this issue.

“While civil partnership will indeed satisfy the needs of some couples, it will not satisfy the needs of couples who want to get married. The Government has been saying that Irish people are not ready for civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples. This poll and previous polls clearly indicate otherwise.”

The Lansdowne poll for MarriagEquality, which took place between March 4 and16, surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 people throughout the country.

Consistent Public Support – The Story So Far

March 2008

Research by Lansdowne Market Research for MarriagEquality

84% in favour of civil marriage or civil partnership.

58% believe that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry in a registry office.

26% believe that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships.

61% agree that it is unfair that gay men and women are excluded from getting married in a registry office.

November 2006

Research by Lansdowne Market Research for GLEN

84% in favour of civil marriage or civil partnership

51% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

33% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships.

October 2006

Sunday Tribune Opinion Poll carried out by Millward Brown IMS

64% believe that same-sex couples should have the same legal and financial rights as married couples.

February 2006

Irish Examiner Poll carried out by RedC

51% of the national population in favour of gay unions/marriages.

Dublin: Fingal Co. Council to allow Civil Marriages in Town Hall

Well it would appear the Civil Registrations Act 2004 has begun its remit properly with the Green Party encouraging the use of Civic Buildings in order to allow the institution of Civil marriage to take place. Needless to say, this applies to Heterosexual couples only. Oh and any councils out there which wants to start issuing Marriage licenses for Same-sex couples, it would be great if you thought about it, whilst also using your own clout to influence Central Government policy. Funny isn't it though that this comes from a Green Party Cllr when there own party endorses Same-Sex Civil Marriage but kinda gave up on that when they went into Government..

Couples to say ‘I do’ in Swords County Hall

Green Party Cllr Joe Corr has welcomed Fingal County Council's decision to allow civil marriage ceremonies take place in the council chamber of the County Hall in Swords.

Cllr Corr put a motion to the Council requesting the use of the chambers, following recent legislation changes permitting civil marriage ceremonies at nominated locations.

Cllr Corr said: “Fingal County Council’s Swords building offer fine facilities to local couples who wish to marry. The council chamber in County Hall is very beautifully designed and would make a fantastic back drop for a marriage ceremony. There are a number of additional benefits to having a civil ceremony at the Hall. Firstly there is the size of the room and the public gallery to accommodate guests. Secondly, there is the added value of web-casting so that relatives around the world unable to attend the wedding can log on and view it. I also see it as a valuable service provided by the council for the community and in particular for couples who would like to have an alternative to a church wedding in their local area.”

The motion received widespread cross party support and the Council Executive has said arrangements will be made to make the Chamber available when not in official use.

“I consider Fingal County Council to be the most innovative local authority in the country and as a local authority both the management and the elected members are constantly looking for new ways to provide a full service to the people of Fingal,” said Cllr Corr. “I am delighted that the Corporate Service Department will now actively pursue the possibility of having the Mayor of the day appointed as a Soleminister to perform the civil ceremonies, and make Fingal the first local authority in the Republic of Ireland to do so.”

via: Green Party Website.

Permission to Marry

Why I love the Irish Times Letters Page

How I love the Irish Times Letter page, first thing in the morning. If I had my way, I would extend he letters page into at least two pages and scrap the Crossword, give sudoko another two games and add horoscopes, but thats just me being lazy and not wanting to have to go online and find my horoscope every day. Anyway in todays' Letters pages two delightful contributers are writing in about the Civil Marriage debate. Anybody who has been reading here, or knows me personally will be aware of my opinion on this issue [if it hasn't already been stuffed down your throats enough. :-) ]. I particularly enjoyed the first of these letters from Brian Connolly of Birmingham, MI, USA and his rebuttle of Prof. Casey's assertations regarding the raising of children is ideal in a family of one father and one mother...oh wait sorry I misquoted, a "married father and mother", god forbid we would include anybody outside the box. A stable caring family unit provides the best option for a child. It does not matter if they are gay or straight. A child eventually grows up to be an adult, and personally (yes I am biased, but i'll acknowledge that) I would much prefer to see families of all kinds recognized under Irish law but more importantly that these families be protected under Irish Law.

• Irish Times Letters Page
• MarriagEquality
• Real Families (UK)

A Marriage in Belfield.....

The sun shone brightly whilst the birds stayed reverently silent as they swam across the Belfield lake in a non-interrupted fashion. A crowd gathered around the steps of that lake as two brides to be prepared to take their vows, and quiet a big crowd at that. Some well wishers, Some curious onlookers, Some Secondary School children for good measure. In the words of Agnes Brown, a 'Beutiful daay faar a weddin'.

However, the point behind this mock wedding was to highlight the lack of recognition of same sex relationships. Minister, if you are reading, be warned All spectrums of society are behind the call for Gay Civil Marriage, the youths included.

The Launch of Marriagequality

OK this is going to be a quick post, Mainly because I am tired but also because I am in the middle of a thesis proposal for my masters that is due for tomorrow...(it's only a draft mom, don't worry!). I went to the launch of MarriagEquality today in the Mansion House-Yes I skipped class to go. However I am quiet glad that I did. Sometimes in your life there are moments where you feel that a movement or that something has arrived that you feel will go on and change the world and more importantly change the World which you exist in. I firmly believe that this movement has become embodied in MarriagEquality and it will achieve its aims.

*

I walked into the Oak Room this morning and was thinking God I hope they get enough people in to fill all the seats. I guess an empty room always seems harder to fill when nobody is around. I need not have worried though because as the 11am start time approached, not only was all the rows of seats filled, but the spillover was going out into the lobby. The speeches were great and very affirming, as one would expect at the launch of a new initiative such as this. However it was the Rev. Chris Hudson, whose call for those of the Christain tradition not to slink off in the night to have the laws of inequality strengthened. I do have the utmost of respect for this man. I guess it is the fact he is a Unitarian Christian minister who is against inequality, both church and state and is not afriad to speak out. Even though I may still be Roman Catholic and my faith is quiet strong, his message speaks volumes to me.

*

I have been part of many movements/groups in the last couple of years-not to the same extent as the level of involvement that was in that room this morning- I can honestly say, today I felt that I was apart of something very very special. Listening to the endorsements and empassioned pleas of the National Women's Council, the Lone Parents Network (ONE), Labour LGBT, Dublin Pride I felt a strange and unexpected sense of pride welling up inside me. I was moved to near tears on a couple of occassions during this morning, I guess that is how emotional the whole event felt for me. It was as if, like I said earlier, that you could feel the ground swell of support for something that is directly affecting people's lives.

*

I want Civil Marriage for one reason and one reason only. I do not want to be a second class citizen in my own Republic. I do not want no provision or protections by the Irish state, which comes with marriage, ignored whilst I am offered a seperate but equal 'dog license' proposal. Seperate but equal is not equal. Civil Partnership is not Marriage. I want the oppourtunity to go to my local registery office either in Nenagh or Limerick with my partner. I want to be married in the eyes of the law, the eyes of my family, the eyes of my friends and the eyes of the state. I want that because marriage is stability. Marriage is recognized as a stable unit. I also want the oppourtunity to celebrate my 25th Anniversary like my parents have done this wkd with my partner. I don't think it is a big ask. I don't pay my taxes to have lawmakers lie behind Bunreacht na hÉireann. If you claim the law is incompatible, change the law. If you do not, I will be reconsidering my vote and I will bring my family with me, they will bring their families and so on and you will not be in Government. I will continue to do this until whoever is in Government gives me my basic rights. Besides if Catholic Spain can do it, surely Catholic Ireland should have no excuse.

*

The time has come. The time is now. No more excuses.

LGBT Noise: Valentine's Event

-----------------------------
(Email edited to include just main body)
----------------------------

Noise's 2nd official protest will be taking place on Valentine's Day,
Thursday 14th February. In fact, there will be two events on this day.

The first is called 'Show Bertie Some Love' and will take place at 1.30pm
outside the Dail. Noise will be asking the Taoiseach (if he is brave enough!)to
come out and accept a giant, man-sized Valentine's card with messages and
poems from the public on the theme of gay civil marriage.

WE WANT YOU TO SEND US YOUR MESSAGES OF LOVE FOR BERTIE!

To do so, just send your poem or message to info@lgbtnoise.ie with the word
'Valentine' in the subject line. Messages will be stuck to the card. Please let
us know if you DO NOT WANT your name or email address to appear at the bottom
of the message.

Over the next few weeks, members of Noise will also be visiting bars and clubs
on the gay scene so that people can write hand-written messages if they prefer.

There will also be a couple of human bouquets wandering around on the 14th,
handing out
flowers to the public, so do come along and watch if you have a moment at lunch
time!

LGBT Noise Event: 'Open Your Eyes: Love is Blind'

'Open Your Eyes: Love is Blind' next Monday night, 21st January. This protest will be part of a marriage equality awareness day that will involve a poster campaign, flyering throughout the campus and on behalf of Noise the society they will be collecting signatures in support of gay civil marriage throughout the week. The event will be quite visual and involve all participants standing in the main square in Trinity's campus wearing white T-shirts and black blindfolds. The area will be lit by spotlights. (T-shirts and blindfolds will be provided.) The event symbolises the fact that people do not choose their sexuality, and do not deserve to be discriminated against on this basis with regard to access to civil marriage. USI will be promoting the event and inviting the media and their photographers to attend. As this event will take a little time to arrange, people are requested to arrive from 6.30pm to ensure the group is ready for a photo shoot at 7pm. The event will be followed by a reception on campus.

Invisible people have invisible rights, and gay citizens in Ireland will remain without partnership rights unless they and their friends start making some noise and showing their discontent publicly. We would really encourage as many of you as possible to come along and participate. It will only take half an hour of your time and deserves our support. Events such as this are vital in keeping the issue of gay rights in the media spotlight and in the government's consciousness. (For further information www.tcdrainbowweek.com should be up and running in a day or so.)

MarriagEquality Fundraiser

Just got this in this morning's email from Moinne. MarriagEquality has replaced the KAL initiative from February of this year by the looks of it and they are going to be fundraising. For those of you who do not know what the KAL initiative is or what the case is about, it concerns two women-Katherine Zappone & Anne-Louise Gilligan-who were married in Canada and have taken a challenge against the Revenue Commissioners to the High Court, which they lost and is now appealed to the Supreme Court, with a date for sometime in the Fall of 2008. For those of you who have the time and can contribute to this event or to the Campaign in General, I'm sure all donations great and small would be appreciated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends

MarriagEquality is having a fundraising lunch on the 6 th of March 2008, at FIRE Restaurant in the Mansion House, Dublin and we need everyone to sell as many tickets as they can so that this year is as big a success as the last two lunches.

MarriagEquality will be launched formally on the 18 th of February 2008 in the Mansion House. As you know, we are aiming to build an active coalition seeking equality for gay and lesbian people and their families. We will organise our own informative and awareness raising events, support other LGBT and Human Rights organisations, work to influence politicians, support couples, families and friends to meet and influence their public representatives and publicise widely the discrimination suffered by gay and lesbian people and their families in Ireland because they are denied access to civil marriage. To do all this however, we need to raise funds.

Please pass this on to everyone you know and please revert and let me know how many tickets you are willing to take on to sell and if you or your organisation can buy a table. Tickets are €150 each, so a table of ten is €1,500.

We also need items for our auction and prize draw so please revert if you or someone you know can donate something.

If you require any further details please feel free to contact me at the below number. I look forward to hearing from you as early as possible in response to this advance notice.


Best Wishes
--
Moninne Griffith
MarriagEquality
087-9321329

100 days for Equality

This came in my email this morning. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend but as usual I figured I would bring it to your attention.

--------------------------------------------------

100 days for Equality

(Campaign for equality in civil marriage)

24^th December 2007

At the Symposium “Full and Equal Rights: Lesbian and Gay Marriage and Partnership Rights in Ireland” held on the 30^th November 2007, it was agreed by those who attended that a sustained programme of action was required between now and the end of March 2008, prior to the Heads of Bill on partnership rights being published. The purpose of this action would be to send a clear and unambiguous message to the Government that the lesbian and gay community are prepared to accept nothing less than full equality in relation to marriage.

It was further agreed that the NLGF would convene a meeting early in January to help progress a series of collective actions that might be taken in this regard.

This meeting is now scheduled for Saturday 12^th January 2008 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm in Outhouse, Capel Street, Dublin and we would like to invite you to attend this important event and to get actively involved in this campaign.

It should be noted that this initiative is intended to focus on activities that can best be advanced collectively and will not encroach on the individual roles, campaigns or activities of any of its participants. This loose coalition will however provide a mechanism for;

• Facilitating a specific set of joint activities
• Developing the agreed collective messages for the 100 day campaign
• Creating awareness amongst and mobilising the lesbian and gay community for action.

The programme for the meeting will be sent out early in January and we hope you will be able to attend.

Orla Howard Patrick Lynch

NLGF: Convenor NLGF: Convenor

LGBT Noise & Gay Civil Marriage

So today I took part in a protest with the new group 'LGBT Noise' on Sth King st. (I think, yas should know how shocking my geography is.lol). Anyways I arrived at 12ish, and firstly because it was bleeding freezing out, despite my heavy jacket & scarf, I needed a fantastic White hot chocolate from Butlers on Grafton st.(Stephen's Green end). I did eventually warm up and was beginning to feel my feet again but not until after the Carols had begun. Anyway I was amazed at the range of people who showed up today; maybe it is because I have always been involved in events in Limerick so I knew who everybody was or half-knew who everybody was. However I was genuinely amazed at firstly seeing Sen. David Norris, a man whom I have the greatest of admiration and respect for but then to see Katherine Zappone and Anne-Louise Gilligan as well, well needless to say I was very impressed. I do sometimes find it quiet hard to speak with people I don't know. Mainly because I don't know what to say, but when it is people whom you admire, for a whole host of reasons, then the walls just build and build.

The reasoning behind this protest/Carol Service was to give some momentum behind a push for civil marriage in Ireland. As the website states:

"The purpose of this event is to create an awareness of the need for FULL equality for gay people and to let the public know that Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered (LGBT) people no longer wish to remain second-class citizens under Irish law. The current government is promising to publish the heads of a bill for same-sex civil partnership in Spring 2008: Bullet points for discussion, not commitments to equal rights. This bill promises to demote rather than promote equality and is an insult to all who believe in human, civil and equal rights"

Doing the Masters that I am doing, has this year given me a whole new lease of life. I have begun to see things in a completely different light and also a recognition that while change is hard as hell, change is always necessary when inherent inequalities persist. While this was a view I had in the past, I think i have finally realized how hard it is to fight for something continuously when you know you should have it from the beginning.

I am Irish. I am a Constitutional Republican. I am a citizen of my wonderful Ireland. Yet my wonderful Ireland, in all her Constitutional Republican virtues, refuses to bestow all the rights and privileges which she gives to those who are married to me or any of us who identify as Lesbian or Gay. Instead, my wonderful Ireland will next year bring forward a piece of legislation which will apparently bring "equality" within my community. Well I say that this Civil Partnership/Civil Union is not equality. Equality which has restrictions is not equality. It is another institutional bloc which exists to prevent people from participating fully and openly in Irish society.

There is only one way to have equality between those who are gay and lesbian and those who are straight and that is the complete equalization of relationships in the State institution of Civil marriage. Those who argue that Gay marriage is not constitutional should examine their Government's own report on this, which says that the only way for full equality is for Gay Civil Marriage. It is also of note to point out that marriage has never been defined as one man and one women in the Irish constitution. The only piece of legislation which was brought in on this was the Social Welfare Miscellaneous Act in 2003, which specifically defined marriage as one man and one women, in order to further stigmatize and institutionalize homophobia within the Irish state.

I yet again call on those who read this blog to voice their opinions to all in their power. Make representations to your local T.D.s, get involved in a campaign, Support a Campaign, but ultimately get out and make some noise because be dammed sure that nobody else is going to do it for you. You are the only person who knows your story well enough that you can recount it. As the cliché goes "Be the change you want to be yourself". However as much as a cliché as that is, it was Mahatma Ghandi who said it.

A plea for the Broadening of Civil Marriage

While I am always slow to put across any particular group's manifesto, this provisio does not apply when it is something that I firmly believe in.

We live in a Republic. A Republic looks after of its citizens regardless of creed, beliefs, gender or sexual orientation. The individualistic nature of a Republic means that sometimes it combines with established societal norms and actively discriminates against those citizens who make up its core. Such a combination has existed in Ireland, with regard many issues, but now the time has come for the Irish Government to recognise FULL and EQUAL marriage as already exists in Civil marriage legislation in this state. The Government's piece meal equality which will be published in the heads of their bill next March, based on the the content of Sean Power, T.D.'s, (Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Dept of Justice, Equality & Law Reform), speech at last weeks NLGF symposium in Kildare St, is just not good enough. 2 provisios will exist in this bill, a) the registration of partnerships mainly for tax, property & inheritance purposes. b) the dissolution of the registration of this partnerships. The problem which I have with these is one simple thing. This is STILL not full equality between heterosexual & homosexual relationships. There is only one way in which FULL AND EQUAL relationships can exist in the Irish context and that is through the broadening of the definition of Marriage, which the COLLEY REPORT, (a government report published in 2006), recommended was the only way FULL EQUALITY could be achieved.

I am calling on all people, GAY AND STRAIGHT to make representations to their local Government TDs, and call for complete Equality, which can only be acquired through the broadening the CIVIL MARRIAGE definition, and the extension of CIVIL MARRIAGE privileges and responsibilities to members of the Lesbian and Gay community.

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What is MarriagEquality?

MarriagEquality is a new initiative working for full civil marriage for same sex couples.

Wasn’t it previously called KAL?

MarriagEquality has grown out of the KAL Advocacy Initiative which was established to support the legal case of Drs Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland. This case is currently being appealed to the Supreme Court and is expected to be heard in autumn 2008.

So what’s the difference between KAL and MarriagEquality?

KAL was established specifically to support the legal case. MarriagEquality goes beyond the case, building a broad-based public initiative to promote civil marriage for all. MarriagEquality will be at the centre of an active coalition of individuals and organisations influencing legislators to introduce full equality for same sex couples.

But hasn’t the Government said it will introduce such legislation?

No. All the Government has done is to commit to publishing the Heads of a Bill on Civil Partnership in March 2008. Civil Partnership is not the same as marriage. It will not give the same rights to gay and lesbian people as marriage provides for heterosexual couples.

So, are civil partnerships or civil unions the same as marriage?

No. Civil unions and civil partnership are not marriage. They will create a separate and unequal institution. Civil partnership may well suit many couples but it will not suit those who want to get married.

But isn’t the Government against same sex marriage?

The Government’s own “Colley Report” commissioned in 2006 to examine partnership options clearly stated that marriage is the only option that would provide full equality for same sex couples.

Isn’t same sex marriage against the Constitution?

MarriagEquality shares the opinion of some of the finest constitutional lawyers in the country who see no constitutional impediment to providing marriage equality in Ireland.

There is no substance to the argument that full equality for same sex couples is unconstitutional. The Constitution is a living document that has been changed many times to reflect the changing needs of Irish society. No where does it state that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Is Ireland ready for same sex marriage?

There are many same sex couples living in Ireland who have already been married in other countries, some of whom are raising children in loving and safe families. Same sex marriage is already a reality in this country.

What about other countries? Surely not many have introduced marriage?

In the European Union same sex marriage exists in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. In addition Canada, South Africa, and Massachusetts in the United States have introduced full marriage equality.

Catholic Spain?

Yes. The Spanish Government decided to introduce full marriage equality because they realised that half or incremental measures would mean simply returning again and again to the issue, and instead decided to deal with it in one go by providing full equality from the start.

OK. So what will MarriagEquality do?

MarriagEquality will be launched formally in February 2008. We will build an active coalition seeking equality for all. We will organise our own events, support other events, work to influence politicians, support couples, families and friends to meet and influence their public representatives and publicise widely this initiative.

Where do I find out more?

Contact Moninne Griffith, MarriageEquality Coordinator, at MarriagEquality@gmail.com or 087- 932 1329