Upswing
Those Irish sure are evolving on gay coupling! A recent survey shows that an estimated 84% of the nation’s citizens support either same-sex marriage or partnerships. While that number reflects previous tallies, there’s an estimated 7% increase on the side of marriage. [Belfast Telegraph]
That’s nice to know! The new government (who aren’t really ‘new’, they were just re-elected and took on the Green Party instead of the Progressive Democrats as coalition partners this time) has promised to legislate for gay civil partnerships before 2008 is out, too (though I doubt that’ll actually happen, I still trust that it will eventually be introduced) here. Yay! There was an elderly mother complaining about the fact that though her lesbian daughter had been with her partner for 13 years, they were strangers under the law last Friday on the Late Late Show (the most watched programme in Ireland), so it’s definitely getting the media coverage!
All of the major political parties here have made it very clear that they are fully in favour of gay rights; our Prime Minister even officially opened GLEN’s (Irish gay organisation) new HQ last year :)
Attitudes are difinately changing alright… But the government will more than likely introduce civil partnership as opposed to gay marriage. Second class citizens and all that jazz….
Well done, Ireland! I wish I lived in a country dedicated to freedom and equality for all. But I’m stuck here in the United States. Please send help!