10 years after that historic May 22, 2015, the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland gets to celebrate the incredible success of the Marriage Equality Referendum. All over the country, people are sharing memories of the campaign that led over 1.2 million people to vote Yes and make same-sex marriage a reality in Ireland.
At an event organised by Belong to mark 10 years of Marriage Equality, Katherine Zappone, Founder of organisation Marriage Equality, said: “Today we are reflecting on that momentous, historic day when Ireland said “yes”. Yes to acceptance, love and equality.
“It is important that we reflect on this and the positive energy that was driving the country forward. The world has changed in many ways since 2015. But Ireland remains steadfast in those values of inclusion and kindness.
“Now we must be vocal. There is a minority who are becoming loud. They are trying to stoke fear and hate. The majority must find their voice” she continued. “I would call on all allies to show their support visible. Show up in every way you can and demonstrate that Ireland is still that country we were so proud to be 10 years ago.”
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The event was hosted by activist Rory O’Neill, also known as the Queen of Ireland Panti Bliss, a central figure in the campaign that led to Marriage Equality. “In 2015, allyship won the referendum,” O’Neill said at the event.
“All communities coming together – that is what we need again now. And that is what the young people today have done at the event. Motivating us to mobilise again, with our allies to shape the progressive Ireland we all deserve.”
CEO of Belong To Moninne Griffth said: “10 year ago, we told young people it is safe to come out. It’s safe to be themselves and that Ireland was a new, progressive country. Sadly, 10 years on, there is a small but loud minority who are trying to drag us backwards. Today, a decade on from that historic day, we are calling on people across Ireland to stand with us again.”
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Taking to Instagram to mark the anniversary, Irish drag legend Davina Devine shared: “Today is 10 year anniversary of when Ireland voted for marriage equality for all citizens. I feel, as a queer person in Ireland you probably remember where you were this day 10 years ago… and some want to prob forget.”
“My life hasn’t changed, but having choice is always nice, especially the sane choices that everyone else has,” she added.
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Reflecting on Ireland’s historic Yes vote on Cork’s 96 FM, Irish fashion designer Don O’Neill recalled how he and his husband Pascal received the news. “The result was astounding. Pascal and I were leaving in New York at the time, with bated breath waiting to see what was going to happen,” he said.
“The news was so staggering that it made the front page of the New York Times the following morning and we were so proud to be Irish and so proud of the nation of Ireland and everyone who came out and voted.”
President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union, Jenny Maguire also recalled the day of the referendum in an interview with Sarah Magliocco for the RTÉ. “I will never forget the memories of both of my parents bringing me to the polling stations and going in with me and voting yes,” the activist shared.
“Getting to exist in that, celebrate that, and see all the public support after the fact, even now, I smile thinking about it. It was truly transformative to my own self esteem as a young queer person at the time.”
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Reflecting on today’s climate, especially around trans rights, Maguire added, “The sense of hope and joy I had ten years ago is gone. Instead, my hope exists in spite of the world around me, not because of it.”
“We need to reacknowledge the political nature of our queer organisations,” she added. “Prides need to be taking on protest matters, holding politicians to account, and advocating without apology for our community.”
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In the same article, PJ Kirby Galang, one half of the I’m Grand Mam podcast, recalled living abroad when the results of the referendum were announced. “When the Yes came through, it felt like my home was saying, ‘you are welcome back anytime and we accept you for who you are.’”
“That was such a powerful thing. When I moved away, I thought I might never come back, but then when the referendum happened, it felt ‘oh, maybe I could.’”
“We can’t take anything for granted; just because we have made progress, it doesn’t mean it can’t be undone,” Kirby Galang continued. “The trans community is being singled out and villainised. Trans people have always been here, and they always will be here.”
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