Source: Belfast Telegraph and GCN.ie, GCN.ie
Dublin -- Campaigners for gay civil marriage rights were due to mount a demonstration at the Dail (parliament) this afternoon demanding equality for same-sex couples.
The campaign group LGBT Noise planned to deliver a giant 6 foot Valentine’s Card to the Taoiseach (prime minister) demanding equal marriage rights for all citizens, regardless of their sexuality.
Members of Noise said that they would be flanked by "two human bouquets" as they present the card to Bertie Ahern. It contains about 1000 Valentine’s poems messages from members of the public expressing their wishes for the introduction of gay civil marriage.
Noise are encouraging as many people to come along to witness the event. They are calling on the Taoiseach to be present, but he has not confirmed his attendance. The activists want to send a message to him and other members of the Dáil with the number of people who turn up to the event.
The group says the Government is currently proposing an inferior system of civil partnership for homosexual couples and, even then, it is not making any concrete progress towards setting up this scheme.
The demonstration comes shortly after a new survey was released that indicates more than half of Irish people would be unconcerned if their child or sibling is gay.
The Sunday Independent/Millward Brown IMS poll did find that significant proportion of people would be "concerned."
The high figures of acceptance, 53% unconcerned about a gay child and 56% a gay sibling, highlight the growing acceptance of LGB people in a society that only decriminalised homosexuality 15 years ago.
37% said they would be concerned about a gay child and 35% a gay sibling.
Both discrimination and incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation are illegal in the Republic of Ireland.
A recent opinion poll found 84% in favour of some sort of recognition for lesbian and gay couples.
Full article: Gay rights campaigners to mount Dail demonstration - Ireland - Breaking News - Belfast Telegraph
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