A new independent group – Yes Equality: The Campaign for Civil Marriage Equality – have launched today to campaign for marriage equality ahead of the upcoming referendum.

The group’s launch, hosted by Charlie Bird, was attended by numerous leaders from civil society, social justice organisations, civil society groups, as well as political and faith-based groups from across Ireland.

“Today’s launch marks a historic moment for Irish society and its gay and lesbian citizens. We are asking Irish people to get involved, vote yes and share their freedom to marry,” Grainne Healy, Yes Equality spokesperson said.

Healy continued, “This is a people’s referendum in that it was called for by the people following 10,000 submissions to, and intense conversation during, the Constitutional Convention. 79% of that people’s forum called for Government to hold a referendum to allow for civil marriage equality. We must now replicate what happened at the Constitutional Convention. We must engage in deep and meaningful conversations between citizens. This alone will secure a yes, and it is everyone’s job to make sure this is exactly what happens.”

“We cannot win this referendum on our own,” said Yes Equality spokesperson Kieran Rose. “We are asking Irish people to get involved, show their commitment to equality and freedom, and join the campaign to win the referendum. Our greatest challenge is complacency. We need every person who wants the referendum to pass, to vote on the day.

Irish people have, with characteristic generosity and fairness, supported emancipation of lesbian and gay people over the last 20 years. We are appealing to the same values again. We trust and believe that the Irish people will answer the proposition with a Yes majority. Our success is dependent on Irish people coming together so that all Irish citizens can share the freedom to marry.”

The Yes Equality group is made up of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Marriage Equality.

More information on Yes Equality: The Campaign for Civil Marriage Equality, including an information leaflet for members of the public, is available from www.yesequality.ie.