DUBLIN (AP) — For months, Ireland has debated whether to legalize gay marriage. Now it’s time to vote, and the choice is a simple yes or no.
Friday’s referendum on amending the Irish constitution to give marriage rights to homosexuals is expected to be approved, based on opinion polls that consistently gave “yes” voters a double-digit lead throughout the two-month campaign.
And yet government officials and gay rights activists are expressing caution, given Ireland’s track record in producing surprise referendum results. They say achieving a high voter turnout is crucial, particularly among younger citizens who traditionally don’t vote in great numbers. Leaders of the country’s dominant faith, Roman Catholicism, have fueled opposition to the measure.
Early indications suggest this referendum is mobilizing voters on both sides just like Ireland’s previous landmark votes on joining the European Union, banning abortion and legalizing divorce. Electoral officers reported stronger-than-usual turnout at many stations in schools, church halls and pubs across this nation of 3.2 million registered voters.
As voters left one polling station in northeast Dublin, they demonstrated a clear generation gap when The Associated Press asked them how they had voted. Those under 40 were solidly yes, the older voters much more likely to have voted no.
“You can give the gays their rights without redefining the whole institution of marriage. What they’re asking for is too much,” said Bridget Ryan, 61, as she voted with her border collie in tow.
By the nearby shores of Dublin Bay, 20-something YesEquality campaigners waved rainbow flags and held up placards urging morning commuters with signs “Vote for us” and “Vote for everyone.” Cars honked back in approval.
Results are expected Saturday.
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The ’ church ’ doesn’t want it to be approved because the ’ church ’ will seen as corrupt .
Theological reasons to one side, the church opposes gay marriage because it doesn’t want to lose its hold on marriage as an institution. Their opposition is primarily about the loss of moral authority and power the Catholic Church will suffer if it passes. .
The Catholic cult’s opposition is one of simple control and a continuing toxic medieval mentality. How marvelous to see “the people” are waking up, to whatever greater or lesser degree, to the destructive mind control of such superstitious nonsense.
The Church’s modern influence in Ireland:
Having your children molested for years by priests.
Having your children physically abused for years by nuns.
Having your unwed mothers forced to work in laundries run by the Church.
Taking their children away at birth and putting them up for adoption while the Church keeps the fees.
and on and on and on…
It’s often fashionable to bitch about what the English have done to the Irish, but it should certainly be paired with what that antique cult specializing in mind control and abuse has done.
“If gay marriage affects YOUR marriage…then one of you is gay.”
There have been reports in the Irish and British press that NOM and the Family Research Council have been (illegally) pouring money into Ireland to help the No campaign. Hopefully the revelations about the Duggars happened at just the right time to negate any illegal money influence.
Wasn’t that thread on the Duggars (The family that made the vagina a clown car.) refreshing??? (*I hate that the comments were not open.) It had all the elements that absolutely define a good, godly, conservative, Christian, family values gaggle of conservative Republicans: Molestation, a cornucopia of lies, child pornography, mind control, prison, hypocrisy, spin…etc.
My gawwd’…You just can’t make this stuff up!