Cheering Civil Rights

Published: Saturday, August 21, 2010

In a colourful display of solidarity, 3,000 gay, lesbian and bisexual people marched through the heart of Dublin to demand civil rights for same sex marriage.
The march, organised by LBGT group Noise, took place on Sunday and ran from Dublin City Hall to the Department of Justice where the protestors placed their demands to Minister Dermot Ahern.
Chanting in unison, there was a tremendous feeling of change being afoot while passer-bys called out their support and cars honked to lend their voice.
Speeches were held outside the Department of Justice to uproarious support. Organisers of the march were quick to point out that although the Irish Civil Partnership Bill introduced in July provided some rights, there was still huge scope for improvement.
While the Bill does afford some legal recognition for same sex couples, campaigners believe that there are some gaping holes regarding same sex families.
Colm O'Gorman, director of Amnesty International, took the opportunity to highlight the lack of protection given to gay parents and children and asked the government to "cherish all children of the nation equally."
Grainne Healy, of MarriageEquality, said the community is still seen as an unequal and lesser group in Irish society. She added that the act ignores children of same sex couples and highlighted the statement made by ombudsman that "the act was not written with children central to it."

Also present were the Union of Students of Ireland and the National Women's Council of Ireland, which, at our last AGM, undertook to work for equality for the children of same sex couples.