Dublin Set To Be Filled With Pride

Speaking on the eve of the Dublin Pride Parade, Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy and Chair of the Party's LGBT Group, Jerry Buttimer, said the milestones that have occurred over the past week demonstrate how far the gay community has come in recent years but also how far there is to go in terms of achieving full and equal rights.

Mr Buttimer said: "This week we have seen a number of changes taking place across the world, and here at home, which move the gay equal rights agenda forward significantly. Earlier in the week in the US, the Supreme Court ordered the federal government to give full recognition to legally married gay couples, which is being hailed as a landmark victory for gay Americans as it gives them access, for the first time, to the federal benefits that same-sex couples can avail of. The ruling also paved the way for the resumption of same-sex weddings in California which was greeted with much fanfare and celebration.

"Closer to home, the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal cleared the way to allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt for the first time. The Court decided that preventing someone from adopting a child because of their relationship status was discrimination, opening up the possibility of same-sex adoptions taking place on the island of Ireland in the not too distant future.

"Yesterday, we also had the launch of the Irish Prison Service's first ever LGBT group, InsideOut, in Portlaoise. The group will support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender prison staff and will also act as a vehicle to normalise same-sex unions in the minds of the public by getting the message out that diversity is something to be feted, not feared.

"This year is a particularly special year in the gay calendar in that we are celebrating 30 years of the Dublin Pride Parade and 20 years of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. We have come so far through the hard work of organisations such as GLEN, Marriage Equality, TENI, BeLongTo, G-Force and a whole host of others."

(CD/JP)