World
Ireland becomes first country to legalize gay marriage by popular vote
Until 1993, homosexuality was a criminal offence in Ireland. Now, Ireland’s gay population has earned the right to marry. Ireland overwhelmingly approved a referendum to allow same-sex marriage on Saturday, becoming the first country in the world to achieve marriage equality through the popular vote. Ireland gave a resounding 62.1% ‘yes’ to gay marriage in referendum. As a result of the referendum, which amends Ireland’s constitution to approve marriage of two people “without distinction as to their sex,” gay couples in the country will be able to marry as soon as this summer.
While there is no doubt that certain politicians deserve applause for their work during the campaign, this was a people’s campaign. The work on the ground was by and large done by regular citizens, who had nothing to gain other than the betterment of society.
Una Mullaly wrote in the Irish Times
Saturday’s legalization of same-sex marriage represents a stunning turnaround in an Ireland that, for decades, was known for its religiosity and social conservatism. Ireland’s evolution on same-sex marriage was not unlike similar movements across Europe and North America, but the country’s turn toward liberal social values also reflects the declining influence of the Catholic Church in the country, whose sexual abuse scandal dominated national headlines for years. Universally illegal until 2001, same-sex marriage is permitted across western Europe, where only Italy recognizes neither marriage nor non-marriage partnerships. But Ireland is so far unique in achieving marriage equality without legislation.
