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Gay couple demand full marriage rights

Thursday, 10 July 2008

A GAY couple living on the Northside are calling on the Government to treat them as fully equal citizens by extending full marriage rights to them. Computer technician Richard Lucey (42) and his partner Paul Higgins (40) have been together for over 12 years, own their own house in Clontarf and are hoping to get married. They say it’s about time that the Government afforded couples like them the same rights as heterosexuals and allow them to have full civil marriages. “We are not asking to get married in a church,” said Richard.  “We are not interested in that. Marriage is how people show that they love each other, and Paul and I do love each other very much. “What we want is to have the exact same rights as everyone else; we want civil marriage and everything that comes with it.” A new Civil Partnership Bill introduced last month will extend limited rights to gay couples while not fully recognising them as married couples. Richard said the bill does not go nearly far enough for him. “The current situation with the Civil Partnerships Bill is that we are supposed to be separate but equal,” he stated.  “We don’t want to be treated any differently to everyone else, though. “I think this bill is a step in the right direction but it is really just a halfway house. “Why can’t we be married rather than have a different status created for us? We are no different.” Richard pointed out that countries like Spain have managed to bring in gay marriage. “Politicians provided leadership on the issue and it was passed,” he said. “I know there is huge support here for this and I want my partner to have full rights in case anything should ever happen to me. “We want civil marriage, not just partnership.” A recent survey showed that almost 60 per cent of Irish people think that gay couples should have the option to marry, while an overwhelming 86 per cent of people agreed that children of gay and lesbian parents should have the same family rights as other children. “There are issues around immigration and citizenship too,” Richard added. “People in gay and lesbian relationships are unable to get citizenship to stay in the same country as their partner, unlike heterosexual couples. “There is so little protection for us; if someone dies, their partner can potentially be left with nothing at all.” Marriage Equality Ireland is a group campaigning for the rights of same-sex couples to marry.  They say the basic human right to marriage must be extended to all couples immediately. Spokesperson for the group, Moninne Griffith, said the proposed civil partnership for couples would not provide the same rights at all. “Under civil partnership, the children of lesbian and gay mums and dads will be left in limbo with no constitutional or legal recognition or protection,” Moninne stated. “Therefore, civil partnership from the outset is not marriage-like; it is separate and it reinforces inequality.” “Civil partnership should have been introduced to Ireland for all straight, lesbian and gay cohabiting couples many years ago. “Introducing civil partnership as the only option for lesbians and gay men is discriminatory,” added Moninne. Marriage Equality Ireland have outlined a number of options open to the Government including introducing new legislation for full marriage equality, changing the Civil Registration Act to include same sex couples or hold a referendum to change the Constitution. The group is currently encouraging all gay and lesbian couples, as well as their families and friends, to contact their local TDs and Senators to explain how being denied marriage rights affects them. The Green Party’s spokesperson on Justice, Ciaran Cuffe TD, has welcomed the new Civil Partnership Bill, but believes that there is still a long way to go. "This is not the full equality we are seeking, but it is a step towards full equality,” Deputy Cuffe stated. “We accept that the Civil Partnership Bill bestows limited rights and will not satisfy everyone. “While the Green Party remains committed to marriage equality for all, in light of our present strength in the Dáil and in Government, we believe that legislating now for civil partnerships provides the best means of recognising and protecting same-sex relationships.”