Friday, May 22, inhabitants of the Emerald Isle will decide if they will become the first country on the planet to allow for same sex marriage through a popular vote.
Voters will be choosing whether the Constitution of Ireland should be changed to extend civil marriage rights to same-sex couples. The proposed amendment to article 41 is the insertion of the line: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.” The Irish version reads: “Féadfaidh beirt, gan beann ar a ngnéas, conradh pósta a dhéanamh de réir dlí.”
If successful, gay people could begin marrying and close the 20 or so legal gaps left open by the civil partnerships that currently exist for LGBTQIA couples in Ireland. (Like having full parental rights for a child raised by two same sex couples and full adoption and surrogacy rights.)
The "Yes" vote camp has had numerous victories in the months leading up to tomorrow, including every single major polling source on line and on earth giving a firm nod of victory to the supporters of same sex marriage. The Taoisearch (Prime Minister), Enda Kenney, as well as the Irish President, Michael D Higgins, support a yes vote. An onslaught of Irish celebrities support a "Yes" vote as well, including most recently Bono and Colin Farrell.
Why is this such a significant day for marriage equality and the rights of LGBTQIA people? Because it's never been done before. Up until now, marriage equality has almost always been made the law of the land by one or several branches of the respected nation's governments: Either through judicial review, lawsuits, or government ruling. All 17 nations that currently have marriage equality on their books obtained it through the government versus the people.
Only in 2012 did the world see the first successful referendum of marriage equality here in the United States when Maryland, Maine, and Massachusetts voters voted in favor of allowing the freedom to marry.
Now an entire country is challenging just how far a nation has come in acceptance. A victory in Ireland will send a ripple effect to not just everyone in Ireland, the UK, and Europe, but it will show the world that citizens can be and are tolerant of all people. Though not a member of the commonwealth, a "yes" victory would mean all of the UK and isles would have marriage equality and a victory would help enforce the message of equality to the commonwealth nations.
A "yes" victory means fewer and fewer English speaking countries banning marriage equality. Will a victory mean anything to the United States? Probably. We have a vast number of Irish and, specifically, Irish Catholic immigrants here that still keep ties with the old country. Often regarded as a deeply religious and conservatively Catholic nation, a victory would show the religious world, including the Vatican, that marriage equality and religion can coexist side by side. As our own Supreme Court debates and prepares to decide whether or not the freedom to marry is a constitutional right for all Americans, maybe a wink-wink, nudge-nudge from our friends across the pound might be what our 7 Catholic justices need to see in order to tip the scale of justice in our direction.
Until then, we wait with baited breath and a beacon of hope from our dear friends in Ireland. A land that will soon be known for its acceptance as the land of love, as well as its luck, and gorgeously green rolling hills.
