Tag: Ireland

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Ireland Moves To Ban Anti-Gay “Conversion Therapy”

Legislation that would ban so-called “ex-gay” conversion therapy continues to advance in Ireland’s parliament.

The bill, titled the Prohibition of Conversion Therapies Bill 2018, has now passed the second stage in the Seanad.

The legislation would ban the archaic and harmful practice of attempting to “cure” homosexuality in Ireland. Should the bill pass, individuals found guilty of performing conversion therapy on another person could face steep fines and possible prison sentences.

Medical experts around the world say the practice is extremely harmful and can lead to lowered self-esteem, depression and suicide.

In 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage through popular vote.

At this writing, 13 states in the U.S. currently ban the use of “conversion therapy” on minors, along with nearly three dozen cities and local municipalities.

Currently only Brazil, Ecuador and Malta have nationwide bans.

(source)

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Mike Pence Bans Media From Breakfast Meeting With Openly Gay Irish Prime Minister

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar with Vice President Mike Pence and
Second Lady Karen Pence

After Ireland’s first openly gay leader said he would bring up LGBTQ rights with Vice President Mike Pence at a breakfast meeting, Pence barred media from attending the meeting.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the press before the meeting that he would be bringing up the issue of LGBTQ rights to the veep during the annual St Patrick’s Day meeting at the U.S. Naval Observatory where Pence and his wife Karen reside.

Ahead of the event, Pence stipulated that the media were only allowed to capture the arrival of the pair outside Pence’s residence.

Pence’s anti-LGBTQ policies and positions are well known from opposing open service in the military and same-sex marriage to supporting so-called “ex-gay” therapy.

Mr Varadkar expressed disappointment at the media ban but added, “It allows us maybe to have a frank conversation that’s easier to have without the media present.”

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Podcast: Ireland’s 1st Openly Gay Prime Minister, Pride Month 2017 Begins, 7th Circuit Court Rules In Favor Of Trans Student

In this week’s podcast:

• Ireland elected it’s first openly gay prime minister

• Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron stands up for gay men in Chechnya

• The 7th court of appeals rules in FAVOR of a transgender student in Wisconsin

• Illinois is about to ban use of the “gay panic” defense in courtrooms

• The Navy and the Pentagon honor Pride Month

• LGBT ally Olivia Newton-John lives by example being positive in the face of personal challenges, and her fans return the favor

• New queer film, “Handsome Devil,” delivers a charming and charismatic coming-of-age story that’s reminiscent of Dead Poets Society

All that and more in this “good news” episode of The Randy Report


Listen below, and a favor – please Subscribe to my podcast on iTunes here.

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Ireland Elects First Gay Prime Minister

(Image via Twitter)

Two years after becoming the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote, Ireland just elected it’s first openly gay Prime Minister.

In addition, the 38 year-old becomes Ireland’s youngest leader ever as well as the first from an ethnic minority background.

From The Independent:

Leo Varadkar is the new leader of Fine Gael and on course to become Ireland’s first gay Taoiseach.

The Social Protection Minister got the support of 51 TDs, senators and MEP to get over the line despite losing the popular vote.

Massive cheers greeted Mr Varadkar as he arrived at the count centre in the Mansion House.

In his speech he declared Ireland a Republic that holds no prejudice.

He became emotional as he described how he was proud to live in a country where the son of an immigrant can become leader.

“Prejudice has no hold in this Republic,” he said, acknowledge that he is a gay man and the son of an Indian immigrant.

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Same-Sex Marriages Begin In Ireland

The first same-sex marriages have taken place in Ireland yesterday after the Marriage Law 2015 came into law.

Dublin-based couple Richard Dowling and Cormac Gollogly became the first same-sex couple to tie the knot.

The couple who have been together for 12 years got married in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Senior Registrar for south Tipperary Mary Claire Heffernan confirmed they were the first same-sex couple to be civilly married in Ireland.

Congratulations Ireland!

(from RTE)

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News Round-Up: November 16, 2015

Uzo Aduba as “Glinda The Good Witch” in The Wiz Live! (Photo: Scott Gilmore)

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Get your first look at the stars of The Wiz Live!

• Hacker group Anonymous declares war on ISIS following the terrorist attacks on Paris.

• 1,500 Mormons officially leave LDS Church after announcement of new policy that children of same-sex couples cannot be members of the faith until they reach the age of 18, leave their parents home and disavow the practice of same-sex relationships,

• Ireland’s marriage equality law takes effect today. Marriages begin tomorrow after the normal mandatory 24 hour waiting period.

• Pastor Steven Anderson spent Sunday sermonizing that when you go to a rock concert in Paris – “somebody might get killed,” because you’re “worshipping death.”

• 19 states say they will not accept Syrian refugees following Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

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Irish President Signs Marriage Equality Constitutional Amendment

Irish President Michael Higgins on Saturday officially signed an amendment to his country’s constitution that extends marriage rights to same-sex couples in his country.

Higgins amended the Irish Constitution roughly three months after Ireland became the first country in the world in which same-sex couples received marriage rights through a popular vote. The Irish Times reported Prime Minister Edna Kenny’s government next month will introduce a bill that would allow the amendment to officially take effect.

“We are all delighted,” Tiernan Brady of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, an Irish advocacy group, told the Washington Blade on Saturday in a statement. “This is a historic moment for LGBT people and everyone in Ireland. After the joyful scenes that followed the resounding yes vote last May it is wonderful that President Higgins has signed the act and made the result official.”

Irish lawmakers in July approved a bill that will allow transgender people to legally change their gender without medical intervention.

Same-sex couples are able to legally marry in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Iceland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico City and several Mexican states, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

(from the Washington Blade)

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Ireland Lawmakers Approve Gender Identity Law

Following a historic vote legalizing same-sex marriage in May, Ireland now becomes the fourth country in the world to allow transgender people to legally change their gender without surgery or other medical intervention.

“This is a historic moment for the trans community in Ireland,” said Sara R. Phillips, chair of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, in a statement after lawmakers approved the Gender Recognition Bill. “Today is the first day we will be seen as who we truly are.”

Wednesday’s vote caps off more than two decades of efforts around the issue that began in 1993 when Dr. Lydia Foy tried to change the gender on her birth certificate.

Irish President Michael Higgins is expected to sign the Gender Recognition Bill into law in the coming weeks.

“This is a great moment for trans people living in Ireland,” said ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis in a statement.

Activists note, however, that the new law will not apply to transgender people under the age of 18.

Ireland will become the fourth country to allow trans people to legally change their gender without surgery and other medical interventions, joining Malta, Argentina and Denmark.

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Colin Farrell: “All You Could See Was Literally Rainbows Everywhere”

“It was really funny because one of the arguments when the vote went through was that the church came out and said, ‘You know, this was a dark day for Ireland,’ and all you could see was literally rainbows everywhere, posters of rainbows, T-shirts of rainbows, men and women hugging, men and men hugging, women and women hugging, and yet cut to, ‘This is a dark day in the history of [Ireland].'”

“A dark day in the history of a country is internal civil conflict and war and bloodshed…It was a great day.” – Colin Farrell talking to E! about the recent passage of same-sex marriage in Ireland