Tag: ireland gay rights

Report on scheme to disregard historic convictions of gay and bisexual men in Ireland finalised

The working group has finalised its report on possible disregard schemes for historic convictions of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The report from the working group established by the Department of Justice to examine the ‘Disregard of (historic) Convictions for Certain Qualifying Offences Related to Consensual Sexual Activity between Men’… Read more »

Gay Irish Prime Minister Welcomed at White House on St. Patrick’s Day

The leader and his partner had earlier met with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband. President Joe Biden welcomed Ireland’s gay prime minister, known as the Taoiseach, to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day on Friday. In a meeting between the countries that had been postponed due to the pandemic, the two leaders… Read more »

Gay Irish Prime Minister Welcomed at White House on St. Patrick’s Day

The leader and his partner had earlier met with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband. President Joe Biden welcomed Ireland’s gay prime minister, known as the Taoiseach, to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day on Friday. In a meeting between the countries that had been postponed due to the pandemic, the two leaders… Read more »

Northern Ireland Converts Civil Partnerships To Marriages

In a win for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland, their civil partnerships will be converted to marriage, Gay Times reports. The Northern Ireland Office made the recent announcement via Twitter. In its announcement, the Northern Ireland Office said the ability to convert civil union to marriage was open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples and… Read more »

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Openly Gay Prime Minister, Steps Down

Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister, Leo Varadkar, resigned on Thursday. According to the BBC, Varadkar acted after his Fine Gael party lost 15 seats in the general election held earlier this month. After the Irish Parliament failed to name his replacement, Varadkar submitted his resignation, though he’ll remain in the post in a caretaker… Read more »

Same-sex marriage now legal in Northern Ireland

Same-sex marriage is now legally recognised in Northern Ireland. From Monday, same-sex couples will be able to register to marry, meaning the first ceremonies will take place in February. For couples who are already married, their marriage will now be legally recognised in Northern Ireland. However, those who are already in a civil partnership will… Read more »

Regulations to allow same sex parents register both their names on their child’s birth cert to be signed today

Law will allow same sex parents register both their names on their child’s birth cert from May 5th 2020. Health Minister Simon Harris will today sign regulations which will allow same-sex parents register both their names on their child’s birth cert from May 5th 2020. Harris will meet with a number of LGBT families and… Read more »

LGBTI ‘lifeline’ for people in rural Ireland under threat of closure

Teach Solais is the only LGBTI center in western Ireland. And without it, people fighting rural isolation would be without their vital support A lifeline for LGBTI people living in rural western Ireland is in danger of closing. Teach Solais, an Irish word meaning ‘lighthouse’, is providing much-needed services. It is the only LGBTI center… Read more »

Abortion is now legal in Ireland as president signs bill

Abortion is an issue that affects many LGBTI people he Republic of Ireland’s president has signed a bill which legalizes abortion on the Emerald Isle. President Michael D Higgins signed the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill into law today (21 December). The Irish people voted to legalize abortion in a referendum earlier this year.… Read more »

Northern Ireland DUP councilor backs motion to light up town hall in rainbow colors for Pride

He went against his own party’s anti-LGBT line A Northern Ireland town hall is set to be lit up in rainbow colors to mark all future Prides. And it’s all thanks to a single Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councilor. A motion on the issue, which relates to Ards Town Hall, was recommended for approval at… Read more »

Gay men in Northern Ireland offered access to pardons

Men convicted of abolished gay sex offences in Northern Ireland can now seek a pardon and have their record cleared. The new law, which was approved by the assembly in 2016, comes into force on Thursday. It brings Northern Ireland into line with England and Wales. Convictions that are disregarded will be considered as never… Read more »

Ireland becomes first country to legalise gay marriage by popular vote

Referendum result gives yes vote 62% and no 38% as equality minister declares he is proud to be Irish Ireland has voted by a huge majority to legalise same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in the world to do so by popular vote in a move hailed as a social revolution and welcomed around the… Read more »

Ireland paves way for LGBT-inclusive sex and relationship education in schools

The Irish government has asked a regulator to draw up guidance for teaching about LGBT issues in relationships and sexuality education (RSE). The Republic of Ireland’s Education minister, Richard Bruton TD, this week announced a review of the RSE provisions in all schools. ? Teaching about sex and relationships has been mandatory in Irish schools… Read more »

Ireland’s first gay prime minister Leo Varadkar formally elected

The former GP, who came out as gay in 2015, is confirmed as taoiseach in Dáil ceremony in Dublin The son of an Indian immigrant has made Irish history by becoming the country’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister. Leo Varadkar, 38, was formally elected taoiseach at a confirmation ceremony in the Dáil in… Read more »

Ireland lifts lifetime ban on gay men giving blood

Ireland has softened rules that permanently banned men who have sex with men from donating blood. Until this week, the Republic of Ireland continued to enforce rules introduced at the height of the AIDS crisis, which stipulate that men who have sex with men (MSM) are banned for life from giving blood. A number of… Read more »

Ireland passes bill removing religious exemptions from LGBT equality law

Fresh off of the country’s first same-sex weddings, Ireland’s Parliament has passed a bill removing religious exemptions from LGBT anti-discrimination laws. The Republic of Ireland approved same-sex marriage in a landslide referendum earlier this year, by 62.07% to 37.93% – and overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, the green light has been given for weddings to start this… Read more »

Gay Couples To Begin Marrying Monday In Ireland

Gay and lesbian couples will begin exchanging vows on Monday in the Republic of Ireland. In May, Ireland became the first nation to legalize such unions by a popular vote. On Tuesday, Irish Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald signed the commencement order for the Marriage Act 2015 in Dublin Castle, the BBC reported. Starting on… Read more »

What It Was Like in Ireland the Moment They Said YES to Equality

You’ve likely heard the news that Ireland made history this past weekend by becoming the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by (a landslide) popular vote. But what you might not have seen beyond the headlines and articles is just how much the marriage referendum captured the attention and passion of an… Read more »

Ireland’s referendum, however inspiring, is not a step forward for gay rights

The resources that are spent on a gay marriage referendum would be better used educating the public about homophobia, protecting LGBTQ youth from bullying, and the like Gays and fair-minded people worldwide are rejoicing at the news that Ireland has legalised same-sex marriage. The news is widely noted as historic, but not for the reasons… Read more »

10% of LGBT people in Ireland have quit their job because of discrimination

Research by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) found that some 30% of gay, lesbian and bisexual employees in Ireland are harassed at work. One in ten Irish LGBT people have quit their job because of discrimination at work, GLEN found. The research also found that employees who were out at work were more… Read more »