Sir, – Brian Lacey (April 15th) correctly points out that that our Constitution doesn't actually bar same-sex marriage, and that legislation is the barrier.
Given the State’s poor history toward its gay and lesbian citizens, I would rather that they be afforded the clear constitutional protection for the basic right to marry than to rely on the whim of the government of the day. – Yours, etc,
DAVID WALSH,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – According to Stephen McIntyre of Twitter ("Yes vote would be good for Twitter ad for Ireland", Opinion & Analysis, April 16th), "Ireland's international reputation as a good place to do business will be enhanced by a Yes vote" because "when pitching Ireland to international business, the case is more easily made when we can point to a society that has open and inclusive values".
Yes indeed, it is a well-known fact that the first item on the agenda of any multinational corporation considering investing in Ireland is not “What’s the corporate tax rate?” or “How much is the minimum wage?” but “Are they sound on marriage equality?”
Not since Eamon Gilmore’s ludicrously over-the-top description of gay marriage as “the civil rights issue of this generation” has the Irish voter been subjected to such ineffable twaddle. – Yours, etc,
FINBAR O’CONNOR,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
A chara, – Recent correspondents on this page have argued that by allowing same-sex marriage, polygamy may be the next step on this liberal agenda that they fear; or in other words, the “if we allow same-sex couples marry, where will marriage end?” argument.
Using this logic, we should ban all marriage.
If we allow a man and a woman marry, where will it stop? – Yours, etc,
MATHEW O’NEILL,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Again and again, campaigners for a No vote have complained that allowing people of the same sex to marry will “redefine” marriage.
My parents have been married for 45 years. What defines their marriage is their love and lifelong commitment to each other.
It does not say much for No campaigners – or their understanding of marriage – that what appears to define marriage for them is the exclusion of a minority from that institution.
It is sad that some people find meaning in excluding others and thereby inflicting harm. And it is puzzling that those same people invoke Christian values to justify doing so. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN BARRINGTON,
Islandbridge,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – It seems to me that all the talk about the advantages of gender balance in all aspects of life will become redundant if the marriage referendum is passed.
All the arguments about the differences in male and female perspectives will thereby be rejected. Gender quotas in election candidates will be irrelevant, and the demand for equal representation of men and women in the Dáil, Seanad, cabinet, county councils, school boards, etc, must be ignored if the public decides that gender balance is not necessary in such a fundamental institution as marriage. – Yours, etc,
NOEL COLLINS,
Kilmallock,
Co Limerick.
Sir, – Ian Kennedy (April 15th) makes a useful and timely contribution to the same-sex marriage debate as he illustrates clearly and unambiguously what is at stake and why it is so important that there is a resounding Yes vote on May 22nd. He clearly draws the battle lines between the "same-sex movement" and those who believe in the "exclusivity of heterosexual marriage and Christian sexual ethics".
Mr Kennedy writes, "In a remarkably short time the approval of same sex relationships has become the sine qua non of genuine humanity". Would that this were the case.
While same-sex relationships have indeed always been part of “genuine humanity”, until relatively recently these have had to be carried on in secrecy; as is still the case in many parts of the world, where imprisonment and even death are the consequences of being discovered.
Since 1993 homosexuality has been legal in Ireland.
The logical upshot of this is the desire to express one’s homosexuality openly and without fear, to form romantic and loving attachments and to build futures together.
Same-sex relationships are no better or worse than any others; some are unhappy, some fail, but many succeed and prosper, greatly enhancing the quality of individual lives and of society at large.
These relationships deserve the same acknowledgement, support and protection from State and society as heterosexual relationships have always enjoyed, and this simple fact is at the heart of the concept of marriage equality.
The very fact of a referendum means that not everybody will be happy with the outcome, however, it is at best fanciful to suggest, as Mr Kennedy does, that the passing of this referendum would result in a return to penal times for dissenting Christians.
This belittles the real persecution suffered by Christians, other religious groups and minorities elsewhere in the world.
More seriously, though, the failure of this referendum would send out a very clear message; while it would not be illegal to be homosexual in Ireland in 2016, we would at best be tolerated, certainly never encouraged, living as second-class citizens in the shadow of undigested prejudice. – Yours, etc,
DENIS LOOBY ,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – Should equality really be the central concept in this debate? Are we not rather making a fetish out of the idea of equality?
Equality is a good thing but it is not the only good thing, nor should it always take priority over every other good thing.
Furthermore, a society where perfect equality is demanded of every institution seems to me like a society based on resentment, a society hostile to anything special or unique. It is no disrespect to those attracted towards their own sex to say that traditional marriage is unique, that it has historical and cultural significance that sets it apart.
In refusing to recognise this, we not only lose something special in its own right, but we encourage this resentful egalitarianism to seek further conquests.
The flat landscape of such an ultra-egalitarian society will be dull indeed, and we will all be the poorer for it – heterosexual and homosexual, religious and secular, liberal and conservative. – Yours, etc,
MAOLSHEACHLANN
Ó CEALLAIGH,
Ballymun,
Dublin 11.