The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will today, January 20, hold a ‘Yes’ campaign for marriage equality ahead of May’s referendum.

The USI has announced that 90% of their members support marriage equality in Ireland and back the campaign, which kicked off at 11.30am outside the Dublin City Council building on Wood Quay, Dublin.

USI president Laura Harmon said, “[e]qual access to civil marriage in Ireland is one of the most important civil rights issues of our generation, […] Students have a valuable role to play in making this a reality.”

The new governing body, Students for Marriage Equality, have plans to secure a ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum.

“Students have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Ireland more equal in the upcoming referendum on marriage equality,” said Harmon.

The USI said it expects a much higher voter turn-out of students and young people in the upcoming referendum.

“USI has registered more than 20,000 students to vote, and we plan to add to this number over the coming months. We know students are excited by the referendum and anxious to have their voices heard on the issue of marriage equality in Ireland.”

USI vice president for equality and citizenship, Annie Hoey, told the Irish Times that the campaign is intended “to engage students on the issues of marriage equality, and to mobilise students to vote on polling day”.