Irish Anti-Gay Ad Explains Why It Isn’t Discrimination if Gays Aren’t Allowed to Get Married
A new anti-gay marriage commercial was published on YouTube, and according to the video’s description, it was created by an Irish religious group and promoted by the (American) National Organization for Marriage.
More: LGBT Rights in Ireland
Irish LGBT group launches PSA against homophobic bullying
Irish organization BeLonG To Youth Services just launched an anti-homophobic bullying advertisement as part of their annual “Stand Up!” LGBT Awareness Week. The campaign promotes standing up against homophobic bullying, positive awareness of LGBT people and their supportive families and friends.
For more information on the campaign, visit belongto.org/campaign.aspx
(via Rinsaikeru)
Irish Parliament approves ‘gay marriage’ bill
The Dail in the Irish Republic has passed a bill recognizing civil partnerships between same-sex couples, reports BBC News.
The bill was opposed by Catholic bishops and a protest was held outside.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said it was “one of the most important human rights pieces of legislation the House had dealt with”.
It is expected to become law in the autumn, 17 years after homosexuality was fully decriminalised in the Irish Republic.
Colin Farrell supports anti-homophobia campaign
Actor Colin Farrell is supporting an Irish campaign against homophobic bullying.
The 31-year-old star, who is from Dublin, spoke out for LGBT charity Belong To’s STAND UP! campaign. His brother Eamon is gay and Farrell was the best man at his civil partnership ceremony in 2008.
Farrell said: “I can’t remember much about the years of physical and emotional abuse my brother Eamon suffered. I was very small. The thing I do remember though, quite literally, is blood on his school shirt when he came home in the afternoon. The beatings and taunting were very frequent for my him and a constant part of his school years.
"People are often afraid of difference. They feel that anything that causes fear, should be turned away from. My brother represented fear for so many people, but caused joy in my life. From a very young age he made me laugh with his intelligence and wit, made me aspire to his strength and goodness. He was to be embraced.”
The STAND UP! Campaign comes from BeLonG To Youth Services, Ireland’s national youth service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people.
LGBT community banned from NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The traditional St Patrick’s Day Parade excludes members of the LGBT community on the grounds that it is a religious event.
The organizers of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade, seeking to legalize their discrimination against Irish lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender marchers, have redefined the parade as a private, religious procession.
Today, gay group Irish Queers lined the sides of the parade to protest against the exclusion. They also criticised local police departments for joining the march, estimating that tens of thousands of police officers and firefighters were involved.
JF Mulligan of Irish Queers said in a statement: “Anti-gay discrimination is now illegal in both Ireland and New York City. The NYPD, FDNY and Mayor Bloomberg need catch up. As city representatives, they cannot legally march until parade organisers renounce their discriminatory message.“
Dublin LGBT groups have also criticised the event. A statement said the exclusion was "deeply un-Irish and something that we cannot allow to happen in the name of an event that is about celebrating Ireland’s rich cultural heritage, of which the LGBT community are a corner stone here in Ireland”.
(Full story: Pink Paper UK)
