May 22 was a historic day for marriage equality. Ireland became the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex unions by popular vote. Over 60 percent of Irish citizens voted in favor of the measure.
The country’s constitution will be changed in order to reflect the passage of the referendum, which takes approximately three months. Many gay couples hope to be married before the end of 2015.
History of Gay Rights in Ireland
Same-sex unions have been a polarizing issue in Ireland. More than 70 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. Most of the opposition has been from religious groups who claimed they wanted to protect the “traditional family.” Gay rights, in general, have had a tumultuous history in the country. Here are some of the milestones.
- 1800s
Laws passed that made homosexual activities a crime.
- 1970s
David Norris led the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform in an effort to reverse the 19th century laws that made gay relationships illegal.
- 1980
The Supreme Court of Ireland stopped Norris’s Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform.
- 1988
The European Court of Human Rights ruled against the Irish Supreme Court’s decision.
- 1993
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Ireland.
- 2011
Civil partnership legislation passed.
John Lyons and Dominic Hannigan became the first openly gay people elected to the Irish Parliament.
Countries That Permit Same-Sex Unions
Ireland is the 19th nation to legalize gay marriage. The Netherlands was the first country to allow it, doing so in 2001. The majority of the other countries are in Europe. The complete list follows.
- Netherlands
- Great Britain
- Spain
- France
- Belgium
- Iceland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Luxembourg
- Canada
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Uruguay
Regional Freedom to Marry
In the United States and Mexico, same-sex unions are legal in some parts of country, but not throughout.
- United States
Thirty-seven states allow gay marriage. Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi are three of the ones that don’t. On April 28, the Supreme Court heard arguments that could make gay marriage legal in all 50 states. A decision on the case is expected by the end of June.
- Mexico
Only civil marriages are recognized in Mexico, and their legality varies by state. They are permitted in Mexico City and the states of Coahuila and Quintana Roo. In the state of Yucatan, they are illegal.
Some Protections
There are a handful of other countries that offer some protections to gay couples. They are:
- Greenland
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Croatia
- Australia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
Famous Irish Homosexuals
There are a number of prominent living and dead Irish homosexuals, including some of the most famous writers in history.
- Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was a 19th century author and one of the most well-respected writers of all time. He was born in Dublin in 1854. The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray are two of his most famous works. Wilde was destitute when he died at the age of 46.
- Eva Gore-Booth
Eva Gore-Booth was born in 1870 and died in 1926. She was an Irish poet, suffragist and labor activist.
- Elizabeth Bowen
Born in Dublin in 1899, Elizabeth Bowen wrote novels and short stories. She was married, but reportedly had several extra-marital affairs with men and women. Some of her most famous novels include The Last September, The House in Paris and The Heat of Day. Bowen died in 1973.
- Katherine Zappone
Katherine Zappone is the first openly lesbian member of the Irish legislature. She is 61 years old.
- David Norris
Born in 1944, David Norris is a politician and gay rights activist. He is largely credited for overturning Ireland’s century-old anti-homosexual laws.
2015 will forever be an important year in Ireland for marriage equality and gay rights. Time will tell as to how long it will take other countries to follow suit.