Gay rights in ireland
Here's a short history of the battle for LGBT rights in Ireland
TODAY MARKS THE 25th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Republic of Ireland.
Earlier this week, the government apologised to men who were convicted of engaging in consensual same-sex activity prior to the decriminalisation in 1993.
While the decriminalisation came 25 years ago, the battle to end the inequality of LGBT people in Ireland dates support long before that.
So, where did it all begin? Here are some of the main events throughout the years.
1861 – Offences Against the Persons Act
For most of Ireland’s history, its laws against homosexuality dated back to the Victorian era and were felt for more than 140 years.
The Offences Against the Persons Proceed, 1861 made “buggery” an offence punishable by penal servitude.
Under the section “Unnatural Offences”, the Act read: “Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery, committed either with mankind or with any animal shall be liable … to be kept in penal servitude for life.”
1970s – The beginning of a social movement
One of the first notable actions against the crima
Gay rights and reform in Ireland: A personal history
Senator David Norris has been a member of Seanad Éireann since 1987 and was the first openly male lover person to be elected to widespread office in Ireland. A Joycean scholar and former Senior Lecturer of English at Trinity College, Dublin, he was a founder of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform in the adv 1970s. To launch our theme for the month of May, “Pride in our Research,”Senator Norris has shared his have experience of the fight for legal reform to settle and project homosexual rights in Ireland. Note that this fascinating piece is a little longer than our usual posts.
I had the unusual experience of having made the transition from creature a criminal as a result of being gay to the situation in Ireland where I could now wed another man (if I could locate one)! I spent so much moment pushing the boat out that I forgot to bounce on myself and the next thing I saw was the boat rounding the harbour and little figures waving back to me standing alone on the beach.
History of criminalisation of homosexuality
Homosexuality was actually provided for under the ancient Irish Brehon Laws. Criminalisation was only achieved in the early
Irish referendum on equal marriage rights appears to have passed
@lobster said:
^^^ indeed. It really is about legal rights not Church dogma. It illustrates how far homophobic countries like Ireland can travel. Still more to carry out. Brothers and sisters in other countries being relegated to secondary or illegal status.GAY is an acronym 'Good As You'. That really is the status of equality ...
That's the whole show. I don't think anyone is trying to secularize church dogma. We're just trying to maintain church dogma off the statute books and in the churches where it belongs, where it can be hailed or prayed to and bigotted right left and center in the privacy of their puny little hearts.
I have an . . . acquaintance (barely) who is a Biblical literalist Christian who only talks to me, I assess , because I both fascinate and disgust him (it works!). He claims that the move to 'tolerance' is an attempt to force people like him to THINK it's OK to be gay married. I didn't really understand that for the longest time. What does anyone take care what you THINK in the privacy of your little pinhead?
But after some thinking about this, it hit me -- it's projection.
His POV is all about t
Ireland becomes first land to legalise homosexual marriage by trendy vote
Ireland has voted by a enormous majority to legalise same-sex marriage, becoming the first nation in the planet to do so by popular vote in a action hailed as a social revolution and welcomed around the world.
Some 62% of the Irish Republic’s electorate voted in favour of queer marriage. The product means that a republic once oppressed by the Catholic church ignored the instructions of its cardinals and bishops. The huge Yes vote marks another milestone in Ireland’s journey towards a more liberal, secular society.
Out of an electorate of more than 3 million, 1,201,607 backed same-sex attracted marriage, while 734,300 voters said No. The result prompted a massive road party around the gay district of central Dublin cover to the national count centre.
Directly addressing Ireland’s gay group, taoiseach Enda Kenny said the finding meant that “a majority of people in this republic have stood up for them [those in the homosexual community]”. He said: “In the privacy of the ballot box, the people made a general statement. With today’s vote we own disclosed who we are. We are a generous, merciful, bold and joyful people who speak yes t