Campaign group LGBT Noise today gathered in Dublin to call on the Government to grant civil marriages to all in Ireland regardless of sexual orientation.
“Unlike in many other jurisdictions, civil partnership does not afford equal rights to same-sex couples. It has been audited by a team of legal experts and they have identified 169 rights which are available in marriage which are absolutely prohibited in civil partnership,” said Max Krzyzanowski, Noise organiser.
Decked out with hearts and rainbow colours, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group drew a crowd outside Leinster House today promoting their annual March for Marriage, set to take place on August 12th.
The group, along with students from Trinity and UCD LGBT societies, gave out Valentine's Day-themed sweets and asked the Oireachtas to “have a heart” and grant marriage equality.
The 2010 Civil Partnership Act made civil partnerships possible for same-sex couples, affording them many of the same rights as spouses relating to tax, social welfare, pensions and inheritance. However, while civil partnership ceremonies have been taking place since April 2011, many crucial aspects of true equality were missing, said Noise.
The rights of children of gay and lesbian couples were particularly of concern to the organisation.
“Children in same-sex families throughout the country are currently unable to form a legal bond with their second parent. This makes LGBT parents and the children of LGBT families second-class citizens,” Mr Krzyzanowski said.
“I as a single gay person can adopt. But were I to civilly partner my boyfriend, we would not be able to adopt. We would instantly be rendered ineligible no matter how suitable we might be as parents,” he said.
In a statement from the Department of Justice, successive Attorneys General have said that it would likely be necessary to change the Constitution to make marriage available to same-sex couples. The upcoming constitutional convention may, however, provide an opportunity for such a change to occur.
“Among the issues for consideration, the convention will be considering changes which would allow for legislation for same-sex marriage, if passed in a referendum,” the statement read.