On Friday 22nd of May, Ireland, as a nation, is being asked one simple question. Should same sex marriage be legalised. Any of you who are connected with me on Facebook or who I’ve talked to over the past few months will know that I stand very much on the yes side of the campaign.
In essence, whether the referendum passes or not makes little difference to me or to my future. Why should it? Regardless of a yes vote, because I’m heterosexual the state doesn’t feel the need to debate my right to make a lawful commitment to the person of my choosing.
But to lots of people on our little island a tick in the yes box means the absolute world. As the Yes campaign has rightly stated, this vote is an act of acceptance for our friends, our brothers, our sisters, our sons and our daughters.
For me, it’s my brother and I’ve asked him to write the rest of the blog instead of me because really this vote affects him a lot more than me.
In a little less than three more days, this referendum will be over one way or the other. At this moment in time that is the only thing we are certain of. I’m sure, like me, you can’t wait. Personally, it’s been a strange few months, watching the campaign from afar, listening to non-Irish perspectives, hearing about the posters and all the campaigns against the proposition.
Thankfully, I don’t have sob story for you (I know others aren’t as lucky). I’m just Gavin, brother of Hubert, Dermot and Anita, brought up by the same parents in the same home, attending the same schools, lived in the same community, drink in the same pubs with the same friends. Sometimes I’m too quiet and sometimes I’m too loud (Usually when I’ve had a few to many). I just happen to be gay.
And that’s how I’ve always been treated, as Gavin. Being gay has never been an issue in Cavan, Dublin or anywhere I’ve travelled. Personally, I have never been treated any differently anywhere, never even hearing a negative comment.
But in the eyes of the law I am different. You now have the power to change that. A no vote would be the worst negative comment imaginable. A no vote would be devastating for me and for my many gay friends and our families.
On Friday you have the power to decide whether one day I can get married.It’s a simple as that. Nothing else will change, the sky will not fall! For some of the people reading this I will have been a very happy guest at their wedding but now you get to decide not only if you will attend my wedding in future but if I even get the option to have a wedding and be married in the eyes of the law at all. Sounds strange doesn’t it, you get to decide whether I have the right to get married?
In my view the Irish people are the greatest people on earth (Yes, I’m biased!). We pride ourselves on our spirit of generosity and I hope this generosity will be shown again on Friday.
I will travel home to Cavan and to my old National School (Greaghrahan NS) along with my family members to cast my yes vote. This is my personal plea to you to please make the effort to go out and vote and vote yes. Never before will a vote you cast have such a direct and immediate impact on one of your friends.
I’m asking for you to please be generous! Vote for me.
Thank you
Gavin
Get your polling cards and your ID and pop into your local polling station on Friday. For the effort it takes to put a small tick in a box, you will get to determine the future of so many people around you.
If this vote passes, then Ireland will be the first country to have passed the deed by ballot.
The first country to vote for equality.
anitamaguire 