Hundreds march in fight for same-sex marriage
Up to 1,000 people campaigned yesterday for the lifting of the ban on civil marriage between same-sex couples.
Brandishing red cards, they vented their anger and frustration at the Government that "continually" refuses to give gay people equal rights. Under Irish law, same-sex couples have no civil or legal rights.
The rally was organised by Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans-gender (LGBT) Noise - founded in November 2007.
Organiser Paul Kenny said a Civil Partnership Bill was due to the published earlier this month but the Government "haven't followed through".
"We were very pleased with the turnout. The numbers were far greater than before."
The proposed bill will offer some legal rights, but it will not carry all the same rights and protections as civil marriage, and civil partners will not be protected by the Constitution, according to LGBT. Also,it won't recognise same-sex families.
- Denise Clarke
