Women say YES to Marriage Equality
Published: Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Women from all walks of life came together at the press conference “Women4Yes” today, led by the National Women’s Council of Ireland, to promote a yes vote in the upcoming Marriage Equality referendum.
Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland said,
“Women and the women’s movement have been to the forefront of championing equality in Ireland. Through the legalisation of contraception, women were provided with greater control over their own bodies and life choices. The introduction of divorce offered women and men the choice to re-marry, should they wish to do so. We must be at the forefront of this campaign.”
Áine Feeney, representative of the Business and Professional Women's Federation International stated,
“The Marriage Equality Referendum is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to end an injustice that impacts on the lives of so many people in Ireland and to provide the choice to marry to all women and men. Marriage equality does not in any way diminish existing marriages. It just ensures that all people in Ireland have the same right to marry the person they love, should they wish to do so.”
Sylvia Meehan, long-time feminist activist said,
“Irish women must utilise the great strides in equality we’ve achieved to drive for social justice for all. For too many years, girls have grown up in Ireland with limits placed on what options they might have in life. We don't want girls who are LBTQ to still grow up with those limitations. A yes vote for marriage equality will remove one of these obstacles and be one step on the way to ensuring all girls can live their life the way they want to.”
Claire Mahon, President of Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation added,
“We are speaking here today as advocates for equality but equally as mothers and grandmothers, sisters and daughters who do not want just second best for their family, their friends and the people in their communities. We want to be sure that the people we love and care about have the same right to enter a relationship that has the protection of law and recognition of the State.”
Women present at the press conference also included:
• Marian Quinn, Association of Childcare Professionals
• Sharon Halloran, Safe Ireland
• Tracey Treanor, Irish Deaf Women’s Group
• Pauline Sargent, Digi Women
• Miriam Holt, National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks
• Ursula Barry, UCD School of Social Justice
• Ailbhe Smyth, Irish Feminist Network
• Gbemisola Johnson, Niger Delta Women Coalition Ireland
What: Press Conference and Photo Call “Women4Yes”
When: Tuesday, 5th May 2015, 10:15 am Photo Call, 10:30 am Press Conference
Where: Cheyne Room, Royal College of Physicians, 19 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2
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For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Head of Communications, NWCI, Tel. 085 858 9104.