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Negative Gay Reaction To Civil Partnerships Bill
During the celebration of Gay Pride on Saturday in Dublin, thousands dubbed the government's bill for civil partnerships unfair.
Grand Marshall of Pride, NLGF Chair, Ailbhe Smyth called for equal rights in her speech after the Parade at Wood Quay Amphitheatre.
“This is a second raite bill,” she said. “We are not second class citizens. What part of equal does the Minister not understand?”
There was an overwhelming response to Smyth's speech, with over seven thousand people packed into the Amphitheatre cheering and on their feet.
Pride MC, Miss Panti asked the people of Ireland to respect each other in their differences and to act in solidarity for equality, while LGBT Noise and MarriagEquality members tore the bill up on stage, to thunderous applause.
The Civil Partnership Bill provides for a range of rights and responsibilities for same-sex couples who register their civil partnership in a whole range of areas succession, maintenance, protection of their shared home, tenancy rights, immigration, pensions and taxation.
Introducing the Bill, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern TD, said that “civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses under the tax and social welfare codes”.
The Minister has also confirmed that in relation to immigration “registered civil partners be treated in the same way as spouses for the purposes of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, which has yet to be enacted.
However, the legislation fails to recognise the rights of same sex couples as parents, adoptive parents or the rights of children within same-sex parented families.
Commenting on the legislation, Director of MarriagEquality, Grainne Healy, said, “All children should have equal access to their parents and vice-versa, and should have the same rights as all children in Ireland.”
While the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) called the Bill “a major civil rights reform that will resolve many immediate and pressing issues faced by lesbian and gay couples,” MarriagEquality is calling on the Government to acknowledge that the bill is forcing lesbians and gay men to accept a second rate set of rights.
