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Irish celebrate outside Dublin Castle. Photo by Mark Condren/The Irish Independent
A referendum on whether to legalize same-sex marriage across Ireland passed with 62 percent of the vote, setting off celebrations Saturday night outside Dublin Castle, where the results were announced. While gay marriage is legal in about 20 other countries, Catholic Ireland is the first where the people voted it in. The yes vote was strongest in the cities and among younger voters. Homosexual acts were illegal in Ireland until just 22 years ago.
The participation by voters was the largest in the history of the Irish republic, broadcaster RTE said.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said it was a "small country with a big message for equality" around the world. Joan Burton, the Tánaiste or deputy prime minister, as well as leader of the Labour Party, said "Together the people of Ireland have struck a massive blow against discrimination." She also quoted Harvey Milk in her remarks: "Hope will never be silent."
In Ireland we are known as a nation of storytellers. And today the people have told quite some story.
This is a magical, moving moment where the world's beating hewart is in Ireland...We've said yes to equality, and yes to love.
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said he voted no on the referendum but acknowledged that the results show the church had a "huge task in front of it...I think really the church needs to do a reality check."
"The government will now introduce a bill to enact the people's will, and it says it hopes it will become law by the time the Irish parliament breaks up in the summer," the BBC reports. "This means the first actual marriages are unlikely to take place until September."
A BBC video report:
Comhghairdeas - Well done Ireland - Our Rainbow Nation
— Joan Burton (@joanburton) May 23, 2015Taoiseach: "Gone are the dark clouds that had me down. It's going to be a bright, bright, sunshiny day." #MarRef pic.twitter.com/DXQ7LajbqY
— Conor Barrins (@ConorBarrins) May 23, 2015
