Maman Poulet

I’ve taken a little blogging break here for the last ten days or so, but it’s not been completely quiet. You may have noted the post exploring the campaign for marriage and the change in how marriage is interpreted which I wrote earlier this week on The (Fabulous) AntiRoom.

I think some of the point of my post got a bit lost in some of the 77 (!) comments which followed but it’s probably one of the more interesting online debates on the rationale some have adopted in their campaign strategies and the perspectives of those who feel alienated.

I’ll be continuing the debate (or trying anyway) on Global Voices on Newstalk tonight with a representative from LGBT Noise.

Also this week I was invited to speak on a panel at a seminar held by Humanrights.ie and the Public Interest Law Alliance which marked the first anniversary of Humanrights.ie It was a very enjoyable afternoon where I was permitted to rant a little about human rights and medias. I believe there will be video and audio available in the next few weeks. Congratulations to Humanrights.ie for their first very successful year and continued good wishes for the future. (Note to other blogs – this crew had had a birthday cake and bubbly to mark their first birthday – lawyers do it in style!)

In other news

- Ivor, Ann, Labhras and Rónán all sent their excuse notes into the Seanad Members Interests committee, (note that Rónán’s name is separated from the other three in this RTE report.

– Ivor has been spotted brunching in Clontarf,

– Rónán Mullen and the Iona Institute have been moaning about Marriage Equality’s forthcoming conference on Children in Same Sex families and the EU funding that has been awarded for the conference. Where do Iona get their money again?

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Catching up on Civil Partnership related news…

Confirmed in a question to An Taoiseach on Tuesday by Eamon Gilmore, leader of the Labour Party. Note the dig by Dermot Ahern.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Does the Taoiseach have an update on when the civil partnership Bill will be before the House?

The Taoiseach: Hopefully, the first week in December.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I look forward to the Minister’s opening speech.

Deputy Dermot Ahern: Does the Deputy have a marriage coming up?

Just in time for the Civil Partnership Train?!

Yes it seems a group of lgbt (church?) activists from Northern Ireland are taking the train from Belfast to Dublin on December 5th.

The idea of a Civil Partnership Train also recalls a travel related equality case taken against the Irish government in 2003. The Irish state’s Department of Social and Family Affairs, following the intervention of the state’s Equality Authority, agreed to issue a Free Travel Pass to a partnered gay man. However, the following year in 2004 the then Minister for Social and Family Affairs brought in new legislation to specifically exclude same-sex couples from such benefits although they are available to unmarried heterosexual couples. The four objectives of the Civil Partnership Train are to encourage the Irish Government to:

IMPLEMENT fully the Good Friday Agreement in the Republic of Ireland and to meet its commitment in the Agreement to provide in the Republic “at least an equivalent level of protection of human rights as will pertain in Northern Ireland�.

UPGRADE the Civil Partnership Bill to provide parenting rights for gay and lesbian couples equal with those in Northern Ireland.

INCLUDE in the Bill recognition of widowed same-sex partners who obtained their Civil Partnership overseas or in Britain or Northern Ireland since 2005.

STOP the proposed amendment to the Bill for an anti-gay opt-out on the grounds of ‘Christian conscience’. The proposed opt-out was not conceded in Northern Ireland.

I’m wondering why they are coming here and not encouraging people to go up there? Maybe they are worried Mary Coughlan would be giving out for encouraging people to do their shopping!

Can we expect an accompanying lobby for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to raise it at the next meeting between themselves and Minister Micheal Martin?

I do hope that there are very loud jeers towards Irish Rail (not at the ordinary staff mind) as the gang arrive! PS. The Department of Social Welfare office is very near the train station if you want to let the real source on the travel ban issue know how you feel!!

Finally I see Neil Ward has uploaded his speech on behalf of the NLGF at a debate at TCD on Tuesday night – again it’s not proposing partnership rights in line with the avoidance of the question in the organisations Burning Issues launch last week and probably in line with the motion for debate. Did that survey actually ask people about partnership rights? Or was it strictly marriage equality?

So who’s watching the actual bill which we may see debated in the week after next? Other than the main cheerleaders? And what briefings for Oireachtas members are LGB organisations preparing and can we see copies?

The events, protests, debates and media coverage of the bill whenever it reaches the Dail is going be liveblogged and covered extensively. Tag for tweets, flickr and posts #cpb ok?? Links to the liveblog will go live next week (complete with live pictures of the Dail debate all on the same page if we get a debate!)

UPDATE:

Tag suggested is now #cpbill due to other tag being used by other organisations/issues recently.

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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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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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‘Green Party Leader John Gormley, Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) Chairperson Kieran Rose, Deputy Chair of the Green Party’s National Council Roderic O’Gorman, and Green Party Justice and equality spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe discuss the Government’s new Civil Partnership Bill.’

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A Tweet sent by Green TD Ciaran Cuffe last night in reaction to another US state legalising same sex marriage. So we have a whiff of a date for the publication of legislation on civil unions in Ireland. And we hear about it a day before the local and European Elections. Of course all the Noisers and Marriage Equality crew will be saying it’s not marriage – there I’ve said it all for them.

Everyone else can start hurling stuff on is there going to be protection for families, or is the tax and social welfare side of life going to be recognised. Or ‘published but when debated’? And of course all the cynics will be going ‘24 hours before an election civil unions makes an appearance  albeit it in a tweet in reaction to something that happens far away from Europe!’

Any stories from the canvass – canvasser or cavassed on lgbt issues in this campaign?

Did anyone mention

• Public safety, well lit streets and Joint  Policing committees which represent all the community,
• European Union membership, European Parliament debates and  importance to the lgbt comunity?
• Local government funding and ensuring lgbt groups are recognised as minorities?
• Social housing and anti-social behaviour and how it affects lgbt tenants?
• SIMs Policies (Social Inclusion Measures)
• How lgbt friendly is the local library?
• Will your local council work with the LGBT community to provide better public spaces for events like Pride?
• Support from Council Arts Officers for LGBT community arts events

Ah yes lgbt issues other than what we call our relationships and when will the government finally make good on it’s promise to recognise them.

Come on someone must have taken their head out of their navel?

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In January 18 pieces of legislation were promised for publication by Goverment Chief Whip and Minister for State, Pat Carey. They were to be published by April 9, the last day of the current Dáil session.

Seven of these bills were to emerge from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform including the Civil Partnership Bill. On April 9 I called the Department and was told that there was no date expected for publication. I then called the office of the Chief Whip and a call was returned to me which stated that the bill was in an advanced stage of preparation and would be published in the next session.

I tuned into the Order of Business in the Dáil that morning and saw I was not the only one interested in the date for the publication of the bill.

Deputy Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael Justice Spokes-person)

…I refer in particular to the legislative programme published on 26 January that lists six Bills to be published by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this session. Will the Tánaiste confirm when during this session the following Bills were published: No. 9 the Civil Partnership Bill; No. 10 the Covert Surveillance Bill; No. 11 the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill; No. 12 the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; No. 13 the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering) Bill, to transpose the third money laundering directive into national law – this is the last country in the EU to effect this transposition; No. 14 the Criminal Procedure Bill and No. 15 the Property Services (Regulatory) Bill? Will the Tánaiste confirm on this, the last day of yet another session, that the Government is paralysed not only in respect of the economy and financial matters but in the justice area where nothing is happening?

An Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan replied

In normal circumstances the House would be in a position to deal with more legislation that would be on particular lists but on this occasion and in the previous session we have had to deal with a considerable number of emergency Bills which were complex and took considerable time.

We had the publication of the Anglo Irish Corporation Act, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill and the Residential Tenancies Bill. Those were emergency pieces of legislation which were facilitated in this House. There were several debates on hugely important issues. We have a second Finance Bill to discuss, whereas in normal circumstances we would have only one.

Deputy Bernard Durkan: A third one.

The Tánaiste: A considerable number of pieces of legislation on the specific issues raised are almost completed. At the last Cabinet meeting we signed off on the covert surveillance Bill. This session does not complete this work today but will continue until 22 April and further publications of legislation will take place.

I noted later on Thursday that Nessa Childers, Labour Party candidate for the East constituency of the European Parliament Elections released a statement criticising the delay and commiting herself to supporting lesbians and gay men if elected.

Next week sees another protest from LGBT Noise giving the Government the red card and calling for Civil Marriage. The turn out at the last rally was dissappointing and I’ve noticed a slight shift in the plugs to get those who don’t want to marry themselves to support the cause. Wonder would it ever work the other way?

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…to those campaigning for Civil Partnership legislation/Civil Marriage, be they individuals or groups …

– Stop appearing in audiences of shows like Questions and Answers – especially when the panel is not balanced with representation of someone from the lesbian and gay/equality and human rights sector. RTE need to be taught a lesson and ‘rent any queer for the audience fodder’ should not be part of the curriculum.

– Play the ball and not the player – If you are in the audience and there is no equal representation on the panel, don’t go after the guy on the panel espousing anti civil partnership/equality views – you are only boosting his ego and making his irrational but perfectly pleasantly presented claptrap look reasonable – non elected people who spread fear look like experts when some angry person who actually knows something is shouting them down and not getting heard at all – cf Libertas.

– As well as ringing or texting programmes contact RTE’s/other outlets public information officers and station editors and complain about a lack of balance. These comments go to editorial meetings. Today with Pat Kenny this morning had someone from a European Christian Lobby group and Lucinda Creighton (who is against civil partnership never mind marriage) discussing EU issues and the impact of religion on politics. There were mentions of civil partnerships and rights for same sex couples and how the EU should not be involved. Nobody else took part and although Pat was doing his bit to bring balance there should have been someone from the human rights, federalist side of the house giving their opinion on social affairs in the EU and the importance of the charter of rights and fundamental freedoms.

– Don’t talk about segregation and apartheid – see here. Find your/our own language to use in this situation and stop using the very different experiences of others.

– Stop making two parent families sound like the be all and end all – single parent families have enough enemies without campaigns for same sex partnership giving them oxygen. Parental rights should come second to children’s rights.

– Brief and prepare opposition parties as well as the FF/Green/Others Coalition. The way things are going currently the civil partnerships bill will be more than useless never mind the lack of civil marriage as an option. In fact stop getting everyone confused and make sure whatever law is on the table is the best possible solution.

Feel free to add your advice… someone might indeed listen…won’t guarantee they’ll actually hear it!

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It’s not the first time I have heard this. And it’s probably futile to think that this might be the last time. However it is a discussion worth having.

THE GOVERNMENT’S Civil Partnership Bill was compared to past segregationist policies in South Africa at the annual Turas na mBan gathering held in Westport, Co Mayo at the weekend.

Addressing the conference on the subject of Love and Social Change, Dr Anne Louise Gilligan said institutions creating separation and segregation never worked.

I disagree that the introduction of civil partnerships as opposed to marriage in Ireland could bring about the situation that was segregation in South Africa. Whilst Desmond Tutu has said that “homophobia is as unjust as apartheid” he did not say that they were the same and neither did he say that civil partnerships (as opposed to marriage) were as unjust as apartheid. I understand that Archbishop Tutu has written the foreword to the recently published book written by Dr. Gilligan and her spouse Dr. Katherine Zappone. Maybe Tutu has expanded this train of thought further and I look forward to reading it upon my return.

Critiques of the Civil Partnership Heads of Bill are needed – there is no mention of tax or social welfare in the proposed legislation. Others have pointed to the lack of acknowledgement of parental rights or the rights of children in the plans of the government.

However taking the now well worn path to simply point to the fact that it’s not marriage won’t help lesbians and gay men and our relationships receive recognition or indeed respect the fact that many do not want marriage.  I wonder when someone else is going to recognise the class divide in the campaign for marriage equality. What? Classism in lesbian and gay politics in Ireland? Oops there I go I mentioned it.

Dr. Gilligan is also quoted in the article calling for a respect for difference which I could not agree more with.

“One of our greatest challenges – a core challenge – in Ireland today is to accept and respect diversity. In order to have real equality, not only do we have to accept our sameness, equally importantly we must accept our differences,” she said.

One hopes that this respect would extend to me for expressing my discomfort with this departure in the the fight for equality for lesbians and gay men.

I would be interested in debating the ease with which white lesbians and gay men attempt to adopt the politics of race in their campaigns for equality. Any takers?

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Mark Tighe covered the Dermot Ahern speech in yesterday’s Sunday Times and followed up with queries to people involved in lesbian and gay activism and media and something from the Ministers Office.

I’m sure the phrase ‘prominent campaigner for Civil Partnerships’ had a few people choking over their bacon croissants

However the Ministers Spokesman said

….The Minister supported legislation for Civil Partnerships. “That speech was 15 years ago and the minister’s view was commonly held at the time. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and anyone is entitled to change their mind. The minister’s view is that the family is fundamental to Irish life. He is fully behind the commitment made in the programme for government.

.

Well it won’t be long till the publication of the Heads of Bill then will it? Grand.

(I could highlight the lack of commonality of view in the speech, from the other ‘commonalities’ at the time – the Catholic Hierarchy’s silence during the campaign, expressions of concern from several bishops that there not be discrimination, the support from all the political parties, the Trade Union movement, most of the NGO movement including other social partners, the students movement the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, etc. etc. Linking decriminalistion to the death of Jamie Bulger? But as I have said on more that a few occasions in the last week – this is about making sure the commitments made in the Programme for Government are delivered and I suppose you could say I’m campaigning for that!)

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