The fight for marriage equality is all done, right? Welllll, no, not quite. We may have won gay marriage here in the United States, but around the world a lot of nations are still lagging behind. Northern Ireland, for example, still won’t recognize married same-sex couples, even though the rest of the U.K. does.
And so we are treated to videos such as this one, in which an indignant 15-year-old delivers what he wonderfully describes as “a wee political rant” about his Member of the Legislative Authority, e, who voted against a marriage equality measure.
The kid never says his name, but his username is “Tibbsey” so let’s go with that. His parents have been together for 21 years, he says, but “in Northern Ireland gay marriage is illegal. In the rest of the UK, it’s legal.”
In response to MLA Gordon Dunne voting against a freedom-to-marry measure last April, Tibbsey says, “I’m sure Gordon Dunne is happily married and doesn’t want his marriage revoked, or wants his government to recognize his marriage.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And so: “I wrote him a letter to ask him why he voted as he did.” He hand-delivered it to Dunne’s office six weeks ago, and it read in part, “I don’t want to receive an impersonal reply. … Please explain why you are not in favor of equality.”
Dunne seems to have taken that request to heart, and has not delivered an impersonal reply. Or any reply.
“I’m a child of a same sex relationship and I can see no reason why my brother and I should be denied a secure family setup,” says the letter that Gordon Dunne does not believe warrants a response. “What gives you the right to take from my brother and me the right to legal protection for my family? … Why do you not believe that every single constituent of yours is equal?”
It’s a good question, and the world continues to wait in suspense for Dunne’s explanation. Could perhaps religion have a hand in the marriage ban? Northern Ireland has a bit of a reputation where Catholicism is concerned.
“I hardly think hiding from a 15 year old … is being an accountable figure,” Tibbsey concludes.
Kim Soupie
Homos’ are equal to what?
DCguy
(Said with Northern Irish Accent) Uh……because JESUS! THAT’S why!
onthemark
“Northern Ireland has a bit of a reputation where Catholicism is concerned.”
??? – That’s exactly backwards, you know? They’re mostly Protestant; that’s the only reason Northern Ireland even exists.
crowebobby
Why add the cornball, saccharin music to a powerful speech that has no need for it. It’s not a Hollywood B movie, it’s a real-life situation.
Billy Budd
Religion is the root of all evil.
Kieran
Matt Baume seems a bit confused. The independent Republic of Ireland (85% of the island of Ireland) is overwhelmingly Catholic and they have legal Gay marriage. The disputed territory of northern Ireland (15% of the island) currently has a northern Irish assembly where British Protestants and Irish Catholics share political power. It is the British Protestant parties who have blocked the legalization of Gay Marriage in Northern Ireland.
Stefano
@onthemark: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Northern_Ireland
joeyty
Northern Ireland has a bit of a problem as far as CATHOLICISM is concerned?? Now I know Queerty only hires ignorant ‘tards.
Stefano
@Kieran: yes that’s true.
http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/7152810
Stefano
@joeyty: It’s about time ! Mouhahahahaha
joeyty
@Stefano: I should have said “Now I know for SURE..”
AzLights
@Kim Soupie: With your ignorant answer, certainly equal to heterosexuals and definitely superior to your ignorance and bigotry. Oh and learn how to use apostrophes.
AzLights
@onthemark: Again, coddling and special rights given to a religious group.
Chris
” Northern Ireland has a bit of a reputation where Catholicism is concerned.”
Why yes, Northern Ireland does have a bit of a reputation where Catholicism’s concerned: it’s anti-Catholic.
joeyty
@Chris: Next Queerty will be telling us Japan is all Lutheran.
Marky
Isn’t the child killing NRA based in the north? Are they still blowing up nurseries and babies with grenades or what?
youarekiddingme
Wow, I thought according to some, the UK was such a “forward, progressive-thinking” place…hmmmm.
onthemark
@AzLights: “Again, coddling and special rights given to a religious group.”
If events of 1921-1922 count as “again,” okay. 🙂