Sir, – With almost no sense of self-examination or irony, people are joining the pack-like and personalised vilification of people like Breda O’Brien and David Quinn across virtually every media outlet. The case for same-sex marriage is being presented as irrefutable dogma. The reputations of people who question this, irrespective of their reasoning, are being treated as if they were worth no more than “pig’s spit”, to quote a contributor to the online comment forum of this newspaper.
As someone, who like Jerry Buttimer, knows first hand the humiliation of being systematically spat at, intimidated and beaten (in my case because of my small size, my rural upbringing and my faith commitment) I abhor bullying in all its guises. Knowing that I will face the ostracisation that has been called for on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday morning, I want to say publicly that I intend to vote No to same sex marriage in the forthcoming referendum, not for any religious reasons, but because I believe there is a profound inequality at the heart of the proposal.
If two lesbian women or two gay men wish to bring a new life into the world they cannot do so without the intervention of at least one other adult. Two gay men will require the assistance of a surrogate mother and possibly an egg from a fourth adult. Two lesbian women will require the donation of sperm from a man (who may be anonymous). In each case it will require the “commissioning” of a child (to use the language of Minister for Justice Alan Shatter’s Children & Family Relationships Bill) who will be sundered from either his or her mother or father, not because of tragic circumstances or the break-up of a relationship, but by an act of adult choice.
Our genetic heritage is as intrinsic a part of who we are as our sexuality. To decide to sunder a child from that inheritance before she is even born is treating her in a radically unequal way. I believe that there is no right for an adult, straight or gay, to do that.
If we are to equate same-sex marriage with heterosexual marriage in our Constitution then we will have to pretend that we will not be treating some children in a profoundly different and unjust way. If pointing this out is what now constitutes homophobia then Humpty Dumpty is our King. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN CONROY,
Mulvey Park,
Windy Arbour, Dublin 14.
Sir, – Allowing your letters page to be used to accuse people with a different view on a matter of public debate of being “simply ill” and “suffering from a mental or emotional disorder” and, as a consequence, having no “good name” to lose is highly questionable (Declan Kelly, February 11th).
All citizens of this republic are entitled to express opinions whatever the rest of us think of them.
One of the characteristics of totalitarian regimes, however, is to lock up people who challenge their authority and label them insane. We should not be promoting that mindset in this democracy. – Yours, etc,
ANTHONY LEAVY,
Shielmartin Drive,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – I must congratulate The Irish Times for allowing regular, and paid, space to the esteemed commentators, John Waters and Breda O'Brien, who are opposed to marriage equality. It is a very broadminded policy. But am I allowed to say that MrWaters and Ms O'Brien are hostile to same-sex marriage and I personally feel that hostility? I feel it deeply. I certainly do not wish to upset or annoy these experts on gay matters in any way, or leave myself open to litigation as I don't have €85,000 in the bank at present. Anyway, what would a 65-year-old gay man, who has been beaten up, discriminated against and abused, know about gay matters? What indeed. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK O’BYRNE,
Shandon Crescent,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – There is an ironic inevitability that a debate about the meaning of a particular word, “homophobia”, results in a completely wrong meaning of another word, “schizophrenic”, as used by one of your letter writers on the subject. Be aware that schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder, regardless of how much modern culture thinks otherwise.
Indeed, in my opinion this error is the modern equivalent of believing the world is flat and the question is how long will it be before that is commonly recognised? I certainly hope that between us we can do our bit to help correct the error, your readership being as good a group as any to start with. – Yours, etc,
FRANK DESMOND,
Evergreen Road,
Cork.