Civil Partnerships Not Enough for Ireland's Gays
Controversial Bill Going Ahead Despite Church Opposition
Nov 3, 2009
During a March for Equality in Dublin, Ireland on August 9, 2009, Niall Crowley of the organizing group LGBT Noise (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) told the 5,000-strong crowd that the Civil Partnership Bill did not provide what the gay community deserved. He said, "We are being offered a deficient starting point that involves a limited partnership for same-sex couples only, nothing for transgender people, and civil marriage for heterosexual couples only." Crowley went on to say that 'it was a recipe for inequality of social status, and ongoing homophobia and for a damaging segregation of sexual identities.'
Overview of the Civil Partnership Bill
The Civil Partnership Bill will allow couples - same-sex couples, opposite sex couples, as well as those in non-sexual long term cohabiting situations - to register their partnerships. The principle benefits are that a legal safety net is provided for all parties in the event of a death or break up of the relationship. Those registering a partnership will be treated as a married couple for taxation purposes.
Some of the Irish political parties, the Irish Civil Liberties Union (ICCL) as well as gay rights groups believe the legislation does not go far enough to providing equality. ICCL director, Mark Kelly declares the bill "a halfway house to granting genuine equality to same sex couples through full civil marriage."
The bill does not recognize same sex families nor gives gay people the right to adopt their partner's children.
Influence of the Catholic Church
The negative teachings of the Catholic Church about homosexuality cultivate the ongoing homophobia Niall Crowley spoke of at the March for Equality. Cardinal Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, has said "natural law cannot be violated by legislative norms, and that natural law forms the basis for integral human development" and recently spoke out against the Partnership Bill in a sermon. The Cardinal reiterated the recent comments of Pope Benedict, whereby governments were encouraged to do what they can 'to keep the family intact and safe from destruction.'
Cardinal Brady has also said that granting legal protections for the gay community would be to 'depart from Christ.' Kieran Rose, Chair of the Gay & Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) responded by saying, "The Cardinal is, of course, entitled to an opinion on Civil Partnership and is entitled to express it....However, Civil Marriage and Civil Partnership are to do with the State."
Despite the influence wielded by the Church, Irish gay rights groups, along with a supportive government, are trying to move the gay rights of this conservative nation forward.
LGBT Rights Groups in the Irish Republic
The Irish Gay Rights Movement, first started in 1974, is now led by LGBT Noise and the Gay & Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN). LGBT Noise has led the opposition movement against the current Civil Partnership Bill after being formed in 2007 as a response to the government voting down the Civil Union Bill that same year. LGBT Noise is responsible for organizing rallies - the last one took place in Dublin and attracted over 5,000 supporters of same-sex marriage - as well as educating the Irish public about the issue of civil marriage for all.
GLEN was founded in 1988 and has been the force behind a number of legislative and social policy changes over the past twenty years. The organization works to gain full equality and protection from discrimination for Ireland's gay community. Successes include the decriminalization of homosexual sex, setting out HIV Strategies, and contributing to the establishment of the Equal Status Act.
Suicide prevention among Ireland's young gay population, commissioning research on older LGBT people as well as working towards full Civil Marriage rights are all on GLEN's agenda.
Marriage Equality in Ireland
This is a relatively new initiative focused on achieving the end result of Civil Marriage for the LGBT community. It was inspired by the plight of two Irish lesbians, a couple for 25 years, who married legally in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada then fought to have their marriage recognized by the Irish tax authorities. The case has gone to the Supreme Court of Ireland after lower courts declared marriage only to be between a man and woman.
Gay Couples in Ireland
In the Irish census of 2006, there were 2,090 same sex cohabiting couples, with nearly two-thirds being male couples. Polls show over-whelming support for some type of legal recognition for same sex couples with only a slim majority favouring full civil marriage. Given the swelling of support at organized pro-civil marriage rallies in 2009 perhaps the Irish gay community will get what they want and deserve. As Eloise McInerny of LGBT Noise put it, "We don't want crumbs from the master's table. We want the whole cake. We want the wedding cake."
 |
 |
