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Civil Partnership is Discrimination Say Rights Groups
The same-sex partnership rights group, MarriagEquality have written letter to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen urging that he intervene in the proposed Civil Partnership legislation
They argue that civil partnership as the only option for same-sex couples promotes inequality.
Moninne Griffith, Director, MarriagEquality said: “Civil partnership without the option to marry, sends a clear message out to the public that the Government do not consider gay and lesbian relationships to be equal,” says Moninne Griffith, Director of MarriagEquality.
“Civil partnership, without a civil marriage option, promotes inequality and may contribute to homophobia. ”
Ross Golden-Bannon, Spokesperson with MarriagEquality added: “MarriagEquality is not alone in its call for equality. Amnesty International, the National Women’s Council and the Irish Association of Social Workers have publicly called for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
"The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has also emphasised that only the introduction of civil marriage for same-sex couples will achieve full equality of status with opposite-sex couples.”
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) are also calling on the Government to amend shortcomings in the Civil Partnership Bill.
“The implementation of this Civil Partnership Bill will only serve to enshrine in law the second class citizenship of LGBT people in this country,” says USI LGBT Rights Officer, Laura Finlay. “It is wholly unfair and sends out the message that gay people in Ireland are not equal to their heterosexual counterparts.”
LGBT Noise will be holding a protest outside the Dáil from 6pm this evening, Thursday, December 3.
“If this Civil Partnership Bill becomes law it will force gay couples to participate in their own discrimination and the children of same-sex couples will remain vulnerable," says Noise Organiser, Liam Connolly.
"The gay community should not be punished for their sexual orientation by being offered this second-class bill, nor should their children be punished by the lack of protection offered within it.”
