Maman Poulet

The Catholic Bishops have been having their spring meeting for the past three days and the press conference today saw them complain about unfair treatment by the media and also express their concerns about the civil partnership bill.

The Press release sent out at the end of the meeting says that the bishops are going to publish a leaflet on Marriage.

‘Why marriage matters’ – statement by the Bishops’ Conference on the Civil Partnership Bill

Bishops agreed to publish a leaflet ‘Marriage matters’ in support of marriage and family life.  This leaflet expresses concern about aspects of the Civil Partnership Bill, currently before the Oireachtas.  The leaflet summarises key elements of Catholic teaching on marriage between a man and woman.  It reiterates the importance of the family as the natural primary and fundamental unit of society and therefore deserving of special protection by the State.  It also highlights that other forms of relationships are not of the same nature and status as that of marriage as the basis of the family.

This information leaflet will be released as a statement, published by Veritas, made available in dioceses and on www.catholicbishops.ie.  Bishops encouraged everyone concerned to inform themselves and to read ‘Marriage Matters’.

Patsy McGarry reports in the Irish Times this evening

Bishop Jones also expressed grave concern about the Civil Partnership Bill at the press conference. He said the bishops had discussed taken a Constitutional action against the Bill should it become law. “As you know marriage and the family are enshrined in the Constitution and the State has an obligation to protect and promote marriage and family life,� he said.

“We are really very concerned that the Civil Partnership Bill is going to undermine marriage by conferring all the rights on same sex unions as marriage, equating same sex union to marriage itself,� he said.

Where the refusal of the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to allow an opt out clause for people who had conscience problems when it came to association or involvement with same sex ceremonies he said the bishops were “very worried about that. Very worried.

The people involved in the ceremonies beyond the couples are the registrars, Bishop. And they are simply being required to do their jobs.  And we know you don’t give a toss about this conscientious objection and just don’t want any rights given to ‘the gays’.

Of course they are late to the party here – the bishops intervention comes 8 months after the publication of the bill when it’s about to enter committee stage and supposedly long enough after the publication of the Murphy and Ryan reports for their graces to rear their heads.   It’s Civil Partnership but the church leaders are far from civil and of course siding with the extremists (yes they are!) who will be partying for days or at least trying to.  David Quinn’s phone calls giving out to them earlier this year have been productive! (Yes he did call them giving out loads that they were chickens not saying anything).

Update:  More from Patsy McGarry on the forthcoming episcopal (m) utterings  in Thursday’s Irish Times  including the line that Same Sex Unions are ‘incapable of realising the specific communion of persons that is marriage’.  Well if it’s their particular  communion that we can’t realise that’s fine so, that’s not what most same sex couples wish to ‘aspire to’.

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I was asked 3 times yesterday about gay people in the Irish Army and if they were allowed to serve. The hearings to examine the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) have commenced in the USA and Obama has promised to remove the bar on lesbians and gay men serving openly in the US Military.

It’s so long ago since there has been any public discourse in the Irish media on the matter.

The answer is yes – lesbians and gay men can openly serve in the defence forces, in fact there has been no preclusion but in 1993 when male homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland there was a significant change to make sure that there was no discrimination in terms of policy. At the same time as equal age of consent was introduced the Irish Defence Forces calmly announced that they would be treating heterosexuals and homosexuals equally – no relationships between senior and junior officers. No harassment of gay officers and no asking questions about peoples sexuality was also confirmed by Ministers and Army chiefs.

From the Irish Independent May 1993

In a related development, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Noel Bergin, told the _Irish Independent_ on Tuesday that a report on the introduction of a code of conduct governing interpersonal relationships is being prepared. The decision to prepare a report follows a recent announcement by the Minister for Defence, Mr David Andrews, that military regulations would be modified to take account of any reform in the civil law on homosexuality. Mr Andrews is seen as a member of the liberal wing of the Fianna Fail party. Lt Gen Bergin pointed out that the Army does not ask potential recruits about their sexual orientation, and that they had few problems in the past in this area.

And a quote from the Dáil record in February 1993 from the then Minister for Defence David Andrews

51. Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Defence if there are regulations governing homosexuality for entrants to the Defence Forces; the current official position on the matter; if it is proposed to make any changes in the present regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Andrews): While the question of homosexuality is not specifically covered in Defence Force Regulations the provisions of section 169 of the Defence Act, 1954, provide that acts which are in breach of the criminal law of the State are also deemed to be offences against military law.

Information regarding sexual orientation is not sought from personnel wishing to enlist in the Defence Forces and it is not proposed to change this policy.

The Defence forces have a code on interpersonal relationships and guidelines in relation to discrimination – see Section 4 par 119.

I’m sure there is still discrimination faced by gay and lesbian members of the defence forces but the policy would indicate that there is no bar on lesbians and gay men working in this area. Other lgbt historians and folklorists may wish to add information to this post?

Maybe we could send current Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea to Washington to tell them all about it? It’s 17 years ago since the issue was dealt with here and 17 years since it was last debated in the Capitol Hill.

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Pat Kenny much like his colleague Ryan Tubridy is really uncomfortable talking about lesbian and gay issues, never mind those of gender identity. However this unease does not stop his brain working overtime.

This morning while discussing Peter Robinson’s statement on his wife’s affair, Pat speculated that some aggrieved gay person was out to get Iris for her remarks on homosexuality and hence why the story was broken. Himself and Eamon Mallie then went on to talk about the hatred for Iris from gays and others. Cough, her own ire for us  didn’t get much of a look in. Lovely woman seemingly if very unpopular everywhere.

I’m still laughing here at the thoughts of a gay man being so conniving – you give the gays far too much credit Pat? And of course it’s a convenient air time filler while you and everyone else wait for the Spotlight programme to go ahead. It wasn’t a gay man that Iris was having an affair with, and allegedly getting people to give money to was it?

Update:

11.15 Pat returns to ‘the gays’ and Iris and interiews Samuel Marr about his documentary, Mise an tUafás, trying to interview Iris Robinson about her comments about homosexuality. Pat wonders if ‘the gays’ are ‘too touchy’ on the subject.

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Continuing the series of ‘watching them watching us’ coming up to the debate on the Civil Partnership Bill.

Tomorrow morning on Ocean FM in the North-West there will be a debate on Civil Partnership legislation between Izzy Kamikaze a ‘fearless’ local lesbian and Mary Doherty from  Renew, a fairly new organisation which was linked to the the Donegal Says No Campaign in the Lisbon Referendum. (You may remember the spat recently on Today with Pat Kenny’s Lisbon post mortem programme between the group and Jim McDaid TD.)

Renew was launched officially in May of this year and the launch was addressed by Most Rev Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, Dónal O’Sullivan-Latchford, Family and Media Association, Patrick McCrystal, Human Life International ,  Mary Doherty, Founder of RENEW. (Rumour has it Maman Poulet’s favourite columnist/not quite reactionary, David Quinn from the Iona Institute, was to be there too but I’m not sure if he made it!)

Mary Doherty is an interesting character having run for the Christian Solidarity Party in Donegal in the 2007 election. She is known locally for a number of campaigns including a picket outside a sex shop opened in Letterkenny.

Renew describes itself as a national group ‘valuing dignity and reviving morality’.  The campaign issues for the group include

The promotion and protection of marriage and family life

To influence government legislation which protects and supports family life

The teaching of sex education is primarily the role of the parent and must be taught in accordance with Catholic principles which always respects the child’s natural modesty

The protection of children against sexualisation by the media and the entertainment and commercial industries.

To end the commercialization of human sexuality and the objectification of women through the media, sex industries and on the internet

To lobby the government to strengthen the obscenity laws and to impose heavy sanctions for the breaking of those laws

The regulation of the media and advertising industry by an impartial body, independent of the industries concerned

The interview is due to take place at 9.10am tomorrow on Oceanfm (102.5fm locally and also available online).  If you feel inspired to take part you can text 083 3500 530 tel 0818 365 500 or email studio@oceanfm.ie

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The Burning Issues research launched today by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation comes shortly before the debating of the Civil Partnership Bill. Yesterday evening a number of LGBT organisations were invited to the Equality Authority for a briefing on the Bill. As Tipster says it’s a bit odd that GLEN could not/did not want to get all the players into the room themselves and a state agency had to do the calling!  I wonder what the tunes from the Hymm sheets to be sung to are going to sound like. (Stay tuned for news on coverage of the CP bill debates.)

Back to this research which was a survey of over 1100 people using online non random methods. Funded by the European Commission and SIPTU it was conducted earlier this year and is launched tomorrow along with a report of a conference on Marriage Matters hosted by the NLGF in May.  The NLGF have stated that they are using this research to establish their mandate in influencing policy in national and international spheres – ooh a consultation!  To be followed by meetings around the country!  Good to see talking and listening to people is suddenly in vogue!

..the NLGF decided to consult with LGBT individuals and organisations nationwide, on what they consider to be the most important policy areas affecting them. The first stage of this was undertaking an online survey of the community. We were delighted to receive over 1100 responses to the survey, which makes it one of the largest consultation exercises ever undertaken with the LGBT community. The results of the survey form the basis of this report.
The next stage will be a number of meetings with people and organisations across the country to discuss the issues and plot the way forward. This will help us prioritise our future work, and inform us as to how we may best continue to support the LGBT community.

The Key Research Findings on the main issues concerning the LGBT community rank as follows

1. Equal Rights at Work

2. Personal Security

3. Marriage Equality

4. Support for younger LGBT people

5. Supporting people coming out

The Age and Gender split on the issues is very interesting and there is a strong emphasis in the report on the issues affecting people outside of Dublin and the difference between rural and urban respondents.

Marriage equality ranks highest for women under 35 and only 5th highest for women over 35. It does not rank at in the top five issues for Men over 35 and is third important for younger men.

It is to the Qualitative Data that the researchers are asked to turn to to drag up the Marriage Equality ranking.  Put simply respondents said more in open answers as a Burning Issue Priority on Marriage Equality issues than any other. So that makes it important again.  This blog’s resident sociologists can interpret this further if they wish! (Question 4a in the questionnaire and page 24 and 25 of the report)

Respect and dignity at work and safety in the streets coming higher than marriage in this research may serve as an important reminder to those recognised as commentators and consulted on LGBT issues.  But then again a few of them are busy talking up the LGBT community as confident actors in the economy.  Oops that was before the recession, I don’t know what the spin will be now.  Maybe the vulnerable and socially excluded drums will start beating soon enough as the money runs out.

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Do the Iona Institute think the Irish public and their elected representatives are a few sultanas short of the full wedding cake? Well they must obviously with the latest line of lobbying that is underway with regard to the Civil Partnership Bill. Yesterday we heard that Iona Institute and their Director, my favourite passive aggressive, David Quinn, were invited in to address a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting. Also invited were GLEN and Church of Ireland committee representatives.

It is interesting don’t you think that no other Catholic Church body was invited in to address the meeting or were they? Have Iona suddenly been elevated to Church mouthpiece? In the same way GLEN seem to be regarded as speaking on behalf of the LGB community? (Yes I know they say they don’t and many wish they wouldn’t but you get my drift).

So the ruse that Iona began with on Prime Time a while ago of protecting the parish hall committee a few weeks ago is continuing – this is where someone from Iona says that Civil Partnership legislation should contain a conscientious objection clause because before you know it Jack and Steve will be able to do the indecent thing in the local parish hall and the parish committee won’t be able to object due to equality legislation. In today’s Sunday Times we now have the photographer and the printer mentioned as needing protecting should they refuse to take the photos at a civil partnership or print the invites. Not a lot of mention of the registrars these days because maybe people feel registrars are public servants and should be doing their jobs in the same way nurses and Gardai are expected to serve?

Any organisation or individual who ‘discriminates’ in the provision of employment rights, such as pensions, or who ‘discriminates’ in the provision of goods and services against individuals in a civil partnership will very likely find themselves on the wrong side of the law,� it claims. Iona said policy-makers had a choice of treating belief in “traditional marriage� as a “prejudice�, or protecting that belief as “legitimate�.

Senator Ronan Mullen describes it as a ‘conscience opt out’. Conscience cop out more like.

We all know that Iona Institute would rather not have Civil Partnership legislation introduced at all. But the proposed bill is so basic and non offensive (except of course to a lot of lesbians and gay men) that there is little for them to complain about. So they come along and pretend they are worried about the people who may be paid to provide services at these events who may not wish to do so. I’m wondering why they didn’t mention florists? Or do you think that they realised that most florists would be only delighted? What about wedding planners? Caterers? Hairstylists? Okay I know I’m guilty of stereotyping but I’m just giving you some assistance in seeing through the pile of rubbish that is Iona’s latest ruse.

Back to that FF Parliamentary Party meeting – there were 25 TD’s and senators in attendance and there is allegedly some discord within the party on the bill. Not as much Discord as there is over the proposed Drink Driving legislation and nothing like the discord there should be over NAMA.

David Quinn says that the examples they are giving and case they are making “have happened overseas. This interpretation isn’t some kind of phantasm.�

Lovely new word there phantasm - orgasm of thought for rightwingers?

As a Catholic Priest openly mentions, sympathises and grieves with partner of Stephen Gately and is widely praised for it, the Iona Institute have to dig deeply to raise the ire of traditional catholics in Ireland against any legislation protecting same sex relationships. Sure the local GAA club is now not safe as a traditional area of marital protection since Donal Óg came out. (Ok I know I’m going too far there – my next post will be on the GAA and their role in closet keeping in Ireland. )

So do you think the TD’s were told by GLEN that lots of people are deeply unhappy with the legislation? And that many families are not protected by it?

A Glen delegation addressed the meeting separately. Kieran Rose of Glen described the meeting as “positive, open and friendly�.

He added: “All of the debate was totally reasonable.�

I’m sure it was.

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She writes to antagonise. Many of you are going to be extremely angry at reading her latest bit of rubbish. I could suggest that you not to bother with her. Or you could make her some Irish Stew. Or tell her something about children’s rights because she claims to be something of an expert.

She’ knows absolutely nothing about lesbian and gay life in this country or any country. Or indeed about ensuring that children’s rights are protected in same sex couple headed families.

And Rory. you’ve just got a whole new show out of this. I’ll be in the front row.

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It’s been a funny old week so far with that stuff from the Pope which some say we should ignore or laugh off but I think there are a lot of queers going home for xmas with it ringing in their ears.

Today Channel 4 announce their shock jock ’scoop’ factor for the alternative Christmas message and it’s a long long way from Quentin Crisp.

Adam Long emails me tonight with his thoughts…

Channel 4 has decided to invite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver their alternative Christmas message. This decision is a complete disgrace and should be immediately reversed.

Under the leadership of this vile and obnoxious bigot, Iran has executed countless numbers of gay people in what they call a crackdown on immoral and unislamic behaviour. In 2005, pictures from Iran of two teenagers being hanged in a public square for being gay shocked the world. (Photo is upsetting).

This repugnant regime also actively denies the Holocaust and is a world leader  in propagating anti-semitism and hatred of Jewish people around the world. Meanwhile women are beaten and arrested by Ahmadinejad’s “morality” police if they dress “immodestly”. In Iran this means not adhering to strict Islamic dress codes by showing too much flesh.

Now Channel 4, a broadcaster who until now I held in high esteem for their progressive and enlightened news values, has decided to give a platform to this despot and by doing so are giving legitimacy to the human rights violations he is perpetrating against his own people and the hate he is trying to export around the world.

A diversity of views should be welcomed but surely Channel 4 could have achieved this by inviting someone on who does not persecute gay people or other groups in society. There are so many more worthy people who could have been given this honour instead of this hate-monger.

Unfortunately there is a view in certain left-wing circles that your enemy’s enemy is your friend. Some people who would consider themselves liberal and progressive (Channel 4 Journalists I’m sure) conveniently overlook things as homophobia and misogyny if the countries spouting such bile are, for example, anti-American or critical of Israel. For me being a liberal means respecting basic human rights and standing up against bigotry no matter where it comes from. Ahmadinejad along with the likes of Ratzinger is the very embodiment of such bigotry.

Please e-mail Channel 4 to urge them to reconsider their decision. If they go ahead with giving a platform to this homophobic despot it will be a smack in the face to every gay viewer of the station and reasonable people everywhere.

Do you think anyone else cares?

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Immediately following his election Obama’s transition team launched change.gov. This site aims to continue his relationship with his supporters whilst detailing and also recruiting people to work in his administration (it explicitly lists a ban on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for those working in the Obama led White house and other agencies).

Today further information is provided on the agenda of an Obama led government on issues for the LGBT community and other civil rights issues. Whilst Irish LGBT’s have workplace and service protection, there are several issues on this list that are not on the agenda of the Irish rights movement never mind the Irish Government.

Support for the LGBT Community

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”

— Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

The Obama-Biden Plan

* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. Barack Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

* Fight Workplace Discrimination: Barack Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees’ domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. Obama also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: Barack Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

* Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell: Barack Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

* Expand Adoption Rights: Barack Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, Barack Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Obama will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. Obama also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. He will continue to speak out on this issue as president.

* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Barack Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

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I’m subscribed to press releases from all the political parties and the title of this one from Sinn Fein made me actually open one for a change.

And my stomach turned reading it…

Chairperson of Magherafelt District Policing Partnership, Councillor Seán McPeake has condemned a vicious homophobic attack on two young men in Maghera at the weekend.

The attack which was carried in the early hours of Sunday morning by a gang numbering between ten and twelve people and which included at least two young women, began with verbal abuse being shouted from cars as the two victims walked close to the town’s Catholic church upon their return from an entertainment venue. They were then chased and assaulted in the Crawfordsburn area.

Making their way to the family home of one of the victims, gang members physically assaulted the victims mother, biting her on the arm. The attack on the women caused her husband so much distress that he was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack.

Cllr. McPeake said:

‘The message must go out loud and clear that such sickening homophobic attacks have no place in our society. Everyone regardless of class, creed, colour, nationality or sexuality have the right to live their lives with full dignity and in peace’

Homophobic attacks in Northern Ireland are regular incidents and there are efforts by the PSNI and the gay community to work together on reporting and policing the issue – however this is also the land of Iris Robinson and Ian Paisley Jnr.

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