To rally Irish voters here and ask is anyone voting No tomorrow?

[LayMeDown]

I know there's lots of Irish on MN. I don't know anyone in RL voting No. But polls indicates it's tightening a lot. I'm getting scared it won't pass and my lovely brother and his partner will be left out in the cold again. What are you all hearing in your circles?

FYI for any non Irish there is a referendum tomorrow on introducing same sex marriage in Ireland.

[Moln]

I should add that the no voters give me their reason too, as of yet I've not heard on based on fact.

Got to admit I don't understand the paddy power odds!!

[MaidOfStars]

marriage is a union between and man and woman in the sight of God

TIL that I am not actually married. Excellent.

[valrhona]

If the young people come out and vote, it will pass. As it bloody well should.

My 14yo dd can't get her head around the fact that a referendum is even required for civil marriage in 21st Century Ireland.

A side note, have you all seen this?? I think it's great.

www.votewithus.org/video/stephen-fry-qi-guests/

[valrhona]

"why should gay people have all the fun"

[madreloco]

It's baffling that seemingly educated people can believe any of these arguments.

It's not. They were just waiting for a seemingly acceptable reason to be able to vote NO. It's not being swayed by arguments, its being handed justification for the way they wanted to vote anyway.

[Lima1]

I'm voting no, I don't go around talking about it or putting it in Facebook because you are seen as a homophobe. I don't actually have a problem with gay people getting married but I am concerned that the constitutional amendment will lead to a right for gay couple to have children through surrogacy and that it will be impossible to legislate with a preference for heterosexual couple when it comes to issues of children. I think the issues are inextricably linked and there is a possibility of this happening. I believe it will be the next step gay people will want to take.
I can understand that they want to have marriage and as I said in principle I'm fine with that, it's only affecting themselves, but it is desirable that children should have a mother and father and I'm not in favour of any change that doesn't support this.
I do think it will pass but I think it will be closer than previously thought.

On a related note, I'm religious but I'm not making this decision on religious grounds. I'm fairly sick of being told I must be tolerant of other people's views yet the religion bashing that goes on by many yes supporters is rampant and highly hypocritical. Live and let live - yeah right.

[emopod]

This link goes to a video made my brother & brother-in-law's Wedding Civil Partnership ceremony last July.

I'll be voting yes, and I urge you to do the same. There are very few issues where the right thing to do is simple, obvious and unambiguous, but this is one of them.

[madreloco]

THIS POSTER is up near me.

At least they say what they mean, I have more respect for them than any of the bullshit Families Matter arse-witted propaganda or the sodding Iona Institute.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

I don't actually have a problem with gay people getting married but...

I'm not racist but....

I'm not sexist but....

[madreloco]

I'm voting no, I don't go around talking about it or putting it in Facebook because you are seen as a homophobe.

Thats because you are one. At least own it, you hypocrite.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Yes at least the Legion of St Joseph are being honest about their motivation. Although thinking about it Joseph was one of Jesus' two dads so you think they'd be more sympathetic to a Yes vote.

[BreakWindandFire]

I read this post from a yes voter this morning about growing up gay in Ireland, and I admit it brought tears to my eyes.

The reform of the Constitution is all too late for me, but that’s okay, I am not canvassing for me. I have missed the ordinary little relationship rehearsals all my teenage friends had. Luckily, it is not too late for a gay friend of one of those amazing St Fintan’s boys. The vista of his life will now be different, in fact, if we change the Constitution, his life’s aspirations will be the same as his straight school mates. Don’t vote yes for me, vote yes for a happier future for the next generation

[ThisTimeIAmMagic]

I am so fucking sick of religious twats who can't understand the fucking simple distinction between civil marriage and religious marriage. You won't have gays clinging to the altar of your temples of intolerance screaming about their right to marry.

It is not difficult. Forget about the No campaign's histrionics over surrogacy (just WTF) and focus on the issue at hand.

I have family in Ireland, two of whom are gay and in longterm partnerships. I am so tired of their right to equal treatment being shat all over by a bunch of religious scaremongers.

[madreloco]

Actually Maryz that isn't true yet. There are no laws currently against surrogacy, and none legislating for it (other than a vague interpretation against commercial surrogacy). There have been some cases of surrogacy in Ireland already, they are always altruistic non-commercial and usually within the one family (so a sister carrying a foetus for another sister. There have been no recorded cases of gay surrogacy.

The upcoming Child and Family Relationships Bill provides for legislation and will apply to both gay and straight couples irregardless of the outcome of tomorrows vote.

[MaidOfStars]

but it is desirable that children should have a mother and father

Citation required.

Clue: Research shows that the children of gay parents are as happy, if not more so, that their straight-parented counterparts.

Your citation should also clarify where that leaves single parents, or perhaps compares children with a traditional mother and father to those who have positive role model of both genders in their life.

[ThisTimeIAmMagic]

And before I hide the thread to avoid giving myself rage the surrogacy issue is a massive red herring. There is no evidence at all that children of gay couples face any more challenges than any other children - except of course prejudice from some of the cunts behind the No campaign and their sheep followers. The most harmed / abused children I ever knew were all from heterosexual homes. One of them had a minister for a dad. Go figure

[ThisTimeIAmMagic]

And it's all so sexist because really no one can stop lesbian couples popping out as many children as they wish. It's all about stopping men from having children without women.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

I don't even feel rage anymore about the adoption/surrogacy muddying of the waters. Everyone on both sides knows their red herrings, just certain people of a bigoted persuasion can't say that aloud.

As maryz said it would be more honourable for them to say 'People of Ireland, we hate gay people and want you to support us in this'.

[madreloco]

I had someone say to me the other day: "gay people shouldn't be allowed have children because those children will be bullied and treated unfairly".....

my response being: "yes, by YOU! How about you vote yes and promise not to be nasty to children because their parents don't have the combination of genitals you prefer? PROBLEM SOLVED, you cock."