Are we so insecure about our sexuality and identity that we have to rush out examples of ‘good’ families and fawn after them. I know I’ve even done this myself at times over the past 20 years.

Why are ‘good’ examples in response to the right’s vilification of queer parents sought as part of campaign strategies?  The construction of the same sex marriage narrative as an economic development tool often accompanies this message tethering people to each other and their state to the disadvantage of others.

Single lesbians and gay men and single heterosexuals raise ‘good’ children too.  But the ‘two is better than one’ and ‘two marrieds is even betterer’ (it’s my blog and I can make up words if I want to) message of the marriage for gays and lesbian movement gathers offensive moss.

Non church going,  non ring wearing, anti cake topping,  attachment parenting disrespectful, possibly fuck buddying queers are raising babies or not raising babies.  They even vote.  And if they don’t marry or raise a child (or proud pooch) in a long term relationship akin to long term heterosexual relationships that doesn’t mean we’re not equal or not worth identifying and respecting in and out of our communities.  Equality for all should mean more than a big day out or another emotional heart tugging video.

However I won’t engage in trying to change the mind of someone who is against it or engage in vilifying her.  It’s not worth the hassle.  Neither is it worth making someone a martyr.

I think Lucinda Creighton should be left alone and that those living in Dublin South East who are concerned should vote for someone else who they agree with and agrees with them.  (This issue would not be the only thing worrying me about supporting her  if I lived in Dublin South East by the way; anti choice, anti secularisation etc. )

It’s not only Lucinda Creighton who feels that marriage is only for straight people who can make babies. Fine Gael have since 2005 believed that marriage is not for gays and many in the party would not support children having rights to their non biological parents and vice versa.  It must be acknowledged that several members of the party spoke in favour of the issue of children’s rights during the debates on the Civil Partnership legislation.  But the issue is not in the manifesto and Enda Kenny has spoken twice on the matter during the campaign and said that it is not party policy to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.   No matter how much Fine Gael say Lucinda is on her own they actually generally agree with her!

So if this is a hot button issue for you then this is about who you vote for on Friday and not about attacking a candidate for her views.  Because she’s not going to change her mind.  And change is about using your head to vote and get others to vote rather than wasting your time making a candidate look like a martyr because she’s probably enjoying it.

Fianna Fáil -  Nil

Fine Gael – No policy section on LGBT issues,

Party does not support civil marriage for same sex couples (checked via email)

Civil Partnership: We will amend tax law in a second Finance Act in 2011 to give effect to the rights for civil partners and cohabiting couples introduced in the Civil Partnership Act 2010.

Anti-bullying Policy: We will encourage schools to develop anti-bullying policies and in particular, strategies to combat homophobic bullying to support students.

Labour

LGBT rights

• Labour is committed to holding a referendum to provide for constitutional recognition of samesex marriage. Labour also supports entitling all parties to a marriage or civil partnership to apply to adopt a child, while ensuring that all adoption decisions must be made in the best long-term interests of the child. In the immediate term, Labour will enact provisions to extend the tax benefits of marriage to same sex couples in civil partnerships.
• Labour is committed to ensuring all publicly funded colleges operate in accordance with the constitutional right to Freedom of Conscience.
• Labour will ensure the five teaching colleges introduce a Freedom of Conscience clause so that trainee teachers no longer are obliged to undergo compulsory religious education.
• Labour will amend Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts (1998) and (2004) to end discrimination against LGBT teachers and trainee teachers, and to ensure that there is no obstacle to schools tackling homophobic bullying.
• Labour will continue to fund Gay HIV Strategies.
• Labour will advance equality for trans-gender people by enacting gender recognition legislation, and by extending to them protections afforded by existing equality legislation.

Green Party

Same-sex couples

The Green Party will:

• In the event of the Supreme Court ruling against Zappone and Gilligan, seek to have the Constitution amended to permit civil same-sex marriage.

• Seek to further reform family law in Ireland to protect the welfare of children in a variety of families, including providing for the extension of legal guardianship to de facto parents.

• Ensure the continuation of the HSE-National Office of Suicide Prevention LGBT Mental Health Programme.

Sinn Féin

Legislation to permit and recognise same-sex marriage. Provide full and equal recognition of all civil partnerships in law.

A review of general equality and human rights proposals will follow shortly

Today Marriage Equality announced another change of venue – the Gresham told them that they were accessible. This is a common thought  – (we have a state body specialising in access by the way but heaven knows what they are doing in monitoring access!) – anyway the advice of many people with disabilities about access is never believe what the hotel tells you.  Get a clear up-to-date  definition of access, no portable ramps, no back doors, get out the measuring tape, visit the place and check the loo.

Email to members today…

Unfortunately it has been necessary for us to change the venue again, so please note that this historic event will now take place in The Grafton Suite, The Westbury Hotel (off Grafton Street), Dublin 2 from 1pm to 2pm.

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and thank you for your patience, however we can promise that this is an event not to be missed.

So if you would like to attend the event on the 15th November email dawn@marriagequality.ie and find out further details here.

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?

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.

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.

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.

‘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.’

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?