Twitter Updates

Follow me on Twitter

• Home
• Archives
• Contact
• Links
• Subscribe

Archives

Hey, this is the archive section. Pick a year, pick a month, have a nosey.

Shortie

---

Civil Partnerships deserve Civil Rights

08-07-2010
As many of you I am sure now know, the hotly debated topic of the moment is the Civil Partnership Bill which is being debated today in the Seanad. While it doesn't go far enough in terms of equal rights for same sex couples and civil partnerships at least we are finally tip toe-ing in the right direction.

This morning the other half was reading the news before breakfast when he pointed out an article to me on the subject. While I know and I understand that there are some people in this country who are finding the concept of non traditional relationships hard to come to terms with I am shocked, disappointed and to a certain degree, disgusted that there are political leaders out there willing to voice their opposition to affording everyone in society equal rights. The same people who are meant to lead our country, the same people who influence many people's opinions and decisions. The article detailed three high profile political representatives' disagreement with the bill, not because it doesn't go far enough but because in their eyes it goes too far. It wasn't even a logical argument. They believe this bill will diminish the view of traditional marriage.

I believe marriage in its greatest form is the union of two people who love each other and wish to spend their lives together. How this bill diminishes the view of marriage between a man and a woman is beyond me. If anything, this bill serves to nourish loving relationships whether it be between a man and women, between two women or between two men.

With regards to Civil Partnerships, these outdated political representatives need to understand marriage is not an option for everyone. Until recently I didn't think it was an option for me having seen numerous apparently strong relationships falter and crumble. Inevitably these relationships that were marriages sent a ripple of heartache into the lives of family and friends.

There are people out there, who for their own reasons do not want to get married, does this mean they can't be afford the same rights when it comes to tax, registration and even children? And what about those who would chose to get married but are not afford the legal right to do so? If they had the choice, they would marry so why can they not be afforded the rights of those who actually are?

I wish I could blame the generation difference for their views but I refuse to provide them with a scapegoat for their choices. Age has nothing to do with being narrow minded. I have the perfect example to prove it. My granny, who was one of the most fantastic ladies you were ever likely to meet in your life time, was a pretty opinionated person and I am not embarrassed to say the whole 'gay' issue was one we spoke in code about when she was around. One day sitting round her kitchen table myself and a few of my aunts and cousins were implying (without actually saying) that a certain TV presenter was likely to be gay. The conversation went on for a few minutes before my Granny spoke up and quite simply said 'And sure what if he is? If he is happy that's all that matters'. For an 84 year old woman she always was remarkably on the ball.

My point is, these political 'leaders' need to learn to move with the times, this bill doesn't even come close to full equal rights; they cannot keep pushing people into feeling like they are part of a lower class for the life style choices they have made. You might not agree with how they chose to live their lives, but you cannot punish them by denying them what is afforded to every other human being.

Quite simply I say to them, grow up.

---