Ireland Could Make History with Gay Marriage Vote!

I did not even realize this was happening. A shame it hasn't been covered more. If Ireland passes the referendum, it would be the first country in the world to approve marriage equality by a popular vote!

In what could be a historic vote, an estimated 3 million people across Ireland were expected to cast ballots Friday on whether to approve same-sex marriage, a change that appeared likely to pass despite opposition from the Roman Catholic church in this overwhelmingly Catholic nation.

A "yes" vote to change Ireland's constitution to give gay couples the same rights as married heterosexual couples would mark the first victory for gay marriage by nationwide referendum.

Eighteen other countries have legalized same-sex marriage through legislation or the courts, but not by a public vote. Approval by Irish voters would be a sea change, in a country that only decriminalized homosexuality in 1993.

Ireland could make history with gay marriage vote

This has been everywhere for a long time now. EVERYWHERE.

You're right. Every single person in this thread has known about this from those two sources only. Your news aggregation skills are severely lacking. You don't know what you're talking about.

The 'band's attempt to move the goalpost again is laughable. PalJoey's list is not "mainstream" enough for the 'band. And suddenly, it's all about "extensively".

Oh, the tiny little talking points of the phony centrist.

Updated On: 5/22/15 at 02:35 PM

You guys, I just read in the Tehran News that the US Supreme Court is taking up gay marriage! And that all US politicians are EXACTLY the same.

Why is this not being covered anywhere else at all in the world in any place you can name?

Updated On: 5/22/15 at 02:47 PM

Even tho I get squeamish at the thought of rights being voted upon, I'm glad you mentioned it so the 'band can parrot it back later as new information.

Nothing. Thanks Wilmington!

If the vote proves unpopular with the Irish establishment they can always hold it again in eighteen months' time to try and secure a different result, as they did with the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Namo makes a very good point in terms of human rights being subject to popular endorsement. Thankfully, the Irish electorate are on the right side of history but just imagine the consequences if a similar referendum took place in Russia or some homophobic state on the African continent.

But I'll happily put reservations to one side today and celebrate the decision by raising a pint of Guinness (as I frequently do anyway) to the Irish people. This is a terrific endorsement of human rights, of human progress and, with suggestions being the poll may be as high as 70% in favour, sends out a strong message and a lesson to those states I mention in my previous paragraph.

Updated On: 5/23/15 at 09:49 AM

It certainly does:

Some of the television coverage from Dublin Castle is fantastic.

It's not official until the Headband confirms it.

It's sad, really. Such a historic day and nobody, literally NOBODY is talking about it.

nor littorally either.