Same Sex Marriage Referendum Mega Thread - MOD WARNING IN FIRST POST

efb wrote: »

Awaiting that apology

Yes I was wrong and I do apologise, sorry.

osarusan wrote: »

Could you give some specific examples about how my marriage will be affected?

You said 'all existing marriages' would be affected quite explicitly just a few posts ago.

I keep asking because this is something that other people have said - we have heard it during the campaign.

My sister is hoping her husband will do more DIY...

osarusan wrote: »

I do not even understand what this means - what is a mam+man mother?

In a same sex marriage, say two men, then I guess one shall be designated mother.

The point is you cannot specify a woman mother, because that would be disciminating against a man in a same sex marriage.

I read today's Indo reports on the marriage referendum issue (who said what) and found this little doozy at the bottom right of either page 5 or 7. It's by Niall O'Connor and it seem's to be an interview of Des Hanafin (father of Mary Hanafin). Des is a former Sec of the FF Party's fundraising committee and faced down Charlie Haughey over his attempts to get control of FF funds and committee, so he is well used to political party infighting and how dirty it can be. I copied the report below in it's para layout.

Supporters of same-sex marriage have introduced a "palpable climate of fear" into the referendum campaign, according to former senator Des Hanafin.

Mr Hanafin said many No voters have been unfairly portrayed as "homophobic bigots" and have been subjected to a level of intimidation that should have no place in a republic.

The former FF politician, whose daughter is Mary Hanafin, has been involved in a number of referendum campaigns in the past.

But he said that the marriage equality campaign has seen an unprecedented level of fear and intimidation.

"I can recall no election or referendum campaign previously in which so many people felt to say what they truly believe. There are reasonable concerns to be raised about the Governments proposals, but they are being treated as if they are not" Mr Hanafin said.

In Carrick-on-Shannon people erecting No posters were "run out of the town"by those on the Yes side.

And he said every single No poster was pulled down within a day in his own hometown of Thurles.

Mr Hanafin also critisised public servants, including Gardai, who have called for a No vote.

..................................................................................................................................................

Is there anyone here who lives/come's from/has connections with Carrick-on-Shannon who can confirm Des's claim about the No's being run out of town? I'd have thought it would have been headline stuff, along with his Thurles poster story.

osarusan wrote: »

Could you give some specific examples about how my marriage will be affected?

You said 'all existing marriages' would be affected quite explicitly just a few posts ago - you seemed quite clear that there were consequences.

I keep asking because this is something that other people have said - we have heard it during the campaign.

Legally, if ssm is passes, then this affects all marriages.

There is no N plate. Any new laws for marriages or family law shall affect all mariages, not just same sex marriages.

Des Hanafin is still alive? Surprising.

Bannasidhe wrote: »

That's like asking chopsticks which one is the fork.

Why does one have to be 'mother' - why can't they both be Father?

I don't know - we would have to figure out how to handle 2 fathers or 2 mothers. It's an unknown and hense a problem.

We should know the full condequences before voting to change the constitution.

Anita Blow wrote: »

All I can think of is that cartoon of a knife talking to two chop sticks- "So which one of you is the fork?"

Again, up to this it was clear. The change would introduce the confusion.

Anita Blow wrote: »

Just read this on FB from an Anglican Priest who received a call from a "parishioner" in his area asking him to advocate a No vote on the pulpit tomorrow in mass. He politely declined, looked up the phone number and it was one of the No campaign groups from an entirely different area.

Most interesting - Just had a phone call from someone claiming to be a non attending parishioner of mine urging me to tell my parishioners tomorrow to vote no - Had a fulsome and reasonably courteous debate but assured the said person (who only gave me a first name) that I would not be directing the congregation from the pulpit despite my own widely known views. After the phone call ended I did an internet reverse look up on the telephone number and discovered that the number was nowhere near my parish and was infact the number of a prominent solicitor used by a prominent organisation campaigning for a No vote! I decided to phone back and got the person (not incidentally the solicitor in question but they did admit their location) and same individual was a little bit rattled - I don't know if said person is a parishioner and lives in my parish as they claimed but to me it was all a little less than transparent - This sort of behaviour only serves to undermine whatever cause a person is advocating - It certainly did nothing to weaken my resolve to vote YES

Unbelievable.

You can be guaranteed that these guys are ringing every parish in the country at the moment. Where the hell are the real journalists in this country. There is a goldmine of a story for a ball buster of a journalist to get if they choose to go after these organisations. Unfortunately we in Ireland have a pathetic limp wristed selection of media organisations.

gk5000 wrote: »

The point is that currently the school could say mothers only - which in the future could be construed as discrimination against married gay men.

As another poster mentioned, is there a difference between how a single father and gay male parent would be treated?