Ireland goes to the polls for a referendum: same sex marriage
 

I'm going to go out on a limb here (I like climbing trees!) and assume most of you agree with same sex marriage. Here we're about to vote in about three weeks' time on a referendum to change the constitution to allow gay couples to get married. At the moment, there's an overwhelming Yes vote going on, and it looks like it will pass easily but you never know. All political parties support a Yes vote. The only ones against it are .... anyone.... ?

The Catholic Church.
And the Pro-Life Groups.
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Their main, indeed only point of contention is that it's unfair on children not to have a mother and a father. But not all couples who marry (of any/either/all sexes) necessarily wish to have children, of course. So take that out of the equation and what is there left for the "No" camp to complain about? The Church whines on about the Bible, marriage being between a man and a woman etc, but how can this be used as justification for refusing the same rights to gay and lesbian couples as we all enjoy or can avail of?

I know this has happened in various states, so my question is really I guess, how do you feel about this, and if it's happened in your state, are you glad, annoyed, indifferent, what? Any Irish people feel free to lend your opinion.

I vote 'yes'. I don't see the problem, as long as they don't break Mill's harm principle by consciously trying to bother people. But of course, this principle counts for practically everyone irrespective of race, sexuality, etc.

Over here the same sex marriage discussion is not even being considered but if it was i would vote 'Yes' on it.

What bugs me about this issue is that the main reason ppl oppose it is because of procreation. apparently sex is only alright if you can procreate and has the noble end goal of having a kid.

To me that sh*t is stupid.
Thinking that sex and marriage is only a holy privilege for straight ppl is ridiculous because in reality you can marry a midget on Tv just for ratings but even if marriage has become a joke it's still too sacred for gay ppl.

We say we have accepted homosexuals yet when it comes to marriage and adoption we always hesitate to trust them, we simply cannot wash years of homophobia off our hands that easily.

My thoughts are this:
1) Why should it matter to ANYBODY who marries/dates/loves/whatever who, besides the involved parties? To be frank...it's really not anyone else's business besides the involved parties. So why should anyone care if homosexuals get married? It has ZERO impact on anyone else's standard of living.
2) It's hard for me to support the logic behind picking and choosing what decrees you wish to follow. What I mean is when it comes to the Bible, obviously, most of it is outdated. To me it's all or nothing.
3) Those two being said, there's more than enough humans on this Earth to compensate, and more than enough children that could be adopted.

People who are against gay marriage are stupid or misguided or putting their noses where it shouldn't be, in my opinion.

The argument that it is unfair on children is stupid for various reasons. For one, a gay couple would generally have children after deciding that they want to have children. These children are generally wanted and I think that's a pretty good starting point in life - or a good place to end up if you're adopted. Two, I'm from a relatively gay friendly nation and I never got the impression that people who grew up with two dads or two moms are any worse off than others. The only real impression I have that sets them aside is that they seem to be a little more tolerant than the average guy.

I would like the freedom and opportunity to marry the person I love, whether that's a woman or a man. That this privilege should be enjoyed by some and not by others based on whether you like men or women seems ridiculous to me.

So I'd say stop the oppression of gay people and grant them equal rights. It can only benefit society.

I am all about keeping your nose out of other people's bed chambers.

I am for gay adoption or otherwise. My daughter was adopted by a lesbian couple. In Florida gay folks can't adopt so my daughter was legally adopted by a single mother. But when I met her, and had lunch with her while I was pregnant she told me. I told her I didn't care what she did, or who she chose to love. What cared about was that my child was given everything in life I couldn't give her. She's 8 now. And there isn't a day that goes by where I am like damn those gays adopting babies n ****. Nope.

I think it just might take Ireland a might longer then the rest of us to come to the conclusion that gay marriage is 100% ok only because they are still so steeped in religion.

Chef I used to work with who was gay on gay marriage.......

'Who are these idiots who want it, don't they realise how good they have it now'.

Heteronormative thinking. SMH.

I think it's more about a gay guy being glad he doesn't have the option to commit legally because he wants more different cock. :laughing:

Good on you Roxy :yeah:

Though this is a matter of sexual preference it's also a matter of basic human rights.
there's no threat in giving them the same rights a straight people, there's no logical argument against it only homophobic prejudice.

I grew up hearing homosexuality was an abomination and when i asked why they never gave a logical answer and they still don't have one it's all based on homophobic fear, like gays are gonna f*ck them against their will or something, it's such an oxy moron, they think gay ppl can't think straight.