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

RayM · 22-05-2015 02:27AM

certifiedcrepe wrote: »

I'm actually quite emotional tonight seeing all the stuff on social media about a yes vote.. What an amazing thing to see.

The great thing is, it's not just social media. Pretty much every Irish person I follow on Twitter is voting Yes, but I've deliberately created my own little liberal echo-chamber by only following people who aren't arseholes. Until today, I thought there was a massive disconnect between attitudes on social media and in 'real life'. Walking through Dublin city centre this evening though, I'm not so sure. Almost every person I saw was wearing a Yes Equality badge or sticker. There was such a nice atmosphere around town. I think Saturday will be pretty special.

jill_valentine · 22-05-2015 02:32AM

endacl wrote: »

It'd also be weird. Have you ever tried cutting grass with a penis? It just doesn't work.

What an unforgettable image though.

Thirdfox · 22-05-2015 02:33AM

Something I just read in the Guardian today: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/irelands-gay-marriage-referendum-the-guardian-briefing

"However, when the legislation was passed, gay rights group Marriage Equality published a report detailing 160 statutory differences between the entitlements of couples in civil partnerships compared with married couples, ranging from taxation benefits, to immigration rights, to combining assets when applying for housing loans. Many of these discrepancies have been amended in the years since civil partnerships became legal, after efforts from campaigners." (my emphasis)

I've been following this debate with interest and have come across the 160 figure on the yes side quite often. Now I read on a newspaper that is more leftwing than most that the 160 number is incorrect.

Are the people who are referring to that figure doing so disingenuously? Or do they not know that the number is no longer relevant/accurate?

As a matter of interest I wonder what the actual correct number is now, and which laws in particular are affected. Has anyone updated the legislation excel sheet which I've read on the Marriageequality.ie website?

This isn't as bad as some of the outright lies the no side have come out with, but it seems like a pretty disingenuous tactic for the yes side to use also. Had I not read the guardian article I would have taken the 160 figure at face value. Of course the guardian only says many and not most, perhaps only 10-20 etc have been remedied? Without someone performing an actual review of the table we won't know.

Still, I would have preferred that if marriageequality.ie did not wish to update the table as statutory differences disappeared that they would at least acknowledge the figure is historic and no longer correct. As the yes campaign has rightly pointed out some disingenuous information being spread by "no" people, they should equally make sure they don't build their arguments on shaky foundations also.

Anyway, off to the polls we go.

Thirdfox · 22-05-2015 02:36AM

endacl wrote: »

On the contrary, we are in the majority at the moment. Since The Netherlands introduced same sex unions in 2001, only 16 countries have followed suit.

It'd be nice if Ireland could lead the way with this stuff for a change, instead of lagging years or even decades behind.

Contraception. 1980
Divorce. 1995.
Reproductive rights. Who dafuq knows when we'll face up to reality with that one?!?
Marriage equality? That's up to us, boys and girls.

We did lead on the smoking ban and plastic bag levy. So we can be pioneers (at least in the health and environmental sectors).

ronivek · 22-05-2015 02:44AM

Blahblah2012 wrote: »

I'm sure gay marriage is the last thing on a tourists mind....FFS. You'd swear they're screening for gays at dublin airport with that sort of a remark. Heard it all now.

My comment had nothing to do with gay marriage directly. My comment had to do with the fact that Ireland on the surface has recently been portrayed as an all welcoming and inclusive society which has shaken much of the stereotypes founded in Catholicism. My point was that a 'No' vote or a marginal 'Yes' vote won't exactly support that conclusion; and in fact would suggest we have much further to go than some seem to believe.

ronivek · 22-05-2015 02:48AM

endacl wrote: »

On the contrary, we are in the majority at the moment. Since The Netherlands introduced same sex unions in 2001, only 16 countries have followed suit.

Yes but many more countries have legislation in the works; in a few years I would expect it to be the norm in Western society with the exception of maybe certain parts of the USA and central/Eastern Europe.

I just hope Ireland are included in that list!

Ozymandius2011 · 22-05-2015 05:22AM

Thirdfox wrote: »

Something I just read in the Guardian today: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/irelands-gay-marriage-referendum-the-guardian-briefing

"However, when the legislation was passed, gay rights group Marriage Equality published a report detailing 160 statutory differences between the entitlements of couples in civil partnerships compared with married couples, ranging from taxation benefits, to immigration rights, to combining assets when applying for housing loans. Many of these discrepancies have been amended in the years since civil partnerships became legal, after efforts from campaigners." (my emphasis)

I've been following this debate with interest and have come across the 160 figure on the yes side quite often. Now I read on a newspaper that is more leftwing than most that the 160 number is incorrect.

Are the people who are referring to that figure doing so disingenuously? Or do they not know that the number is no longer relevant/accurate?

As a matter of interest I wonder what the actual correct number is now, and which laws in particular are affected. Has anyone updated the legislation excel sheet which I've read on the Marriageequality.ie website?

This isn't as bad as some of the outright lies the no side have come out with, but it seems like a pretty disingenuous tactic for the yes side to use also. Had I not read the guardian article I would have taken the 160 figure at face value. Of course the guardian only says many and not most, perhaps only 10-20 etc have been remedied? Without someone performing an actual review of the table we won't know.

Still, I would have preferred that if marriageequality.ie did not wish to update the table as statutory differences disappeared that they would at least acknowledge the figure is historic and no longer correct. As the yes campaign has rightly pointed out some disingenuous information being spread by "no" people, they should equally make sure they don't build their arguments on shaky foundations also.

Anyway, off to the polls we go.

I know the following are among the differences because the Law Society mentioned it a few weeks ago on Pat Kenny or Sean O'Ruairc.

- Unlike a spouse in a married couple, a civil partner can't sue a third party for emotional damage caused by harm to their partner.

According to a yes side that lists the differences taking account of recent changes other differences include:

- problems setting up joint tenancies such as hefty charges.
- problems accessing hardship payments eg in case of flood damage to the home. A marital home is eligible for such payments.

The issue of hospital visitation also seems problematic as you're not next of kin.

Grayson · 22-05-2015 05:28AM

ronivek wrote: »

If there's no 'Yes' vote tomorrow I'll quite frankly be embarrassed to be Irish. We'll be one of the few Western countries to refuse to allow gay marriage; and even worse we won't be able to blame our democratically elected government.

If there's a 'Yes' vote I'll be happy that we've taken a step forward; but without a reasonable majority it will really open my eyes to the fact that no matter how far people seem to think the country has come in terms of equality and forward thinking... we still have a long long way to go.

A 'Yes' vote with a reasonable majority of above 65-70% would send a pretty clear message to everyone that we really are the welcoming nation that Tourism Ireland would have the world believe; not just on the surface but in every way that counts.

Personally I feel it'll be quite a close thing but that 'Yes' should pip it; maybe 55-45.

Even without a huge majority we'll see change. Remember divorce? If they tried to outlaw that now there'd be outrage. All the people who benefited from it would speak put. And we'd also easily realise that society hasn't fallen apart because of it.

FluffyAngel · 22-05-2015 06:40AM

This is the vote that will say

We have taken back our country

from those that squeezed its heart till the tears of its children ran red from the pain of the past and dragged us back screaming to the dark ages..

my soul shall be freed as i vote for the first time in my life ...

pmasterson95 · 22-05-2015 06:47AM

Come on the no.

The latest yes double standard is how it uses voting yes as a way to put down the church. I dont think its the church the referendum is about :rolleyes: but they can bring in extra ****. Mention gays having children and they scream murder. But they can slam the church. Hilarious.

aloyisious · 22-05-2015 06:50AM

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

I am straight and female so I can't marry him. How is that marriage equality? Gay men are more equal than me. Vote No!

Just don't tell Iona that

Asmooh · 22-05-2015 06:52AM

I think people should marry another person if they love eachother, no matter what gender the other person is.

Hammer Archer · 22-05-2015 06:55AM

Half of one of Ireland's most famous gay couples has weighed into the debate with the following words of wisdom:

Wellthatsthebusinesslikeyouknowwhatimeanyouknowinandoutthedoorsandgiddyup! Wellanywayshamehithimshaveabullock.

df1985 · 22-05-2015 06:56AM

Logging on to boards for the first time in a very long time. used to post regularly enough but emigrated to aus. Sat at my desk in Melbourne right now hoping for a yes vote, I'd like to return to Ireland some day to be treated the same as everyone else

And there's loads more in aus in my situation.

quick question: are exit polls expected to be taken? or will we know nothing at all until Saturday?

road_high · 22-05-2015 07:04AM

pmasterson95 wrote: »

Come on the no.

The latest yes double standard is how it uses voting yes as a way to put down the church. I dont think its the church the referendum is about :rolleyes: but they can bring in extra ****. Mention gays having children and they scream murder. But they can slam the church. Hilarious.

Whateva...

mylefttesticle · 22-05-2015 07:05AM

Blahblah2012 wrote: »

I'm sure gay marriage is the last thing on a tourists mind....FFS. You'd swear they're screening for gays at dublin airport with that sort of a remark. Heard it all now.

No need for that! and if you have seen it all now about a poster who was trying to say something positive then i suggest you get out more, pathetic!

efb · 22-05-2015 07:13AM

Done. Voted. Yes to both.

efb · 22-05-2015 07:14AM

df1985 wrote: »

Logging on to boards for the first time in a very long time. used to post regularly enough but emigrated to aus. Sat at my desk in Melbourne right now hoping for a yes vote, I'd like to return to Ireland some day to be treated the same as everyone else And there's loads more in aus in my situation.

quick question: are exit polls expected to be taken? or will we know nothing at all until Saturday?

No exit polls Saturday morn give a good indication

ronivek · 22-05-2015 07:15AM

First time seeing this one; everything is always funnier in a Cork accent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cISKfwfOmM

Adamantium · 22-05-2015 07:19AM

This is unfurling the same way as it did in Croatia last year, only in our case the question was phrased in the opposite way:

"Are you in support of adding an article for the constitution that says that 'A marriage is an union between a man and a woman'? YES / NO"
(the result of this would still allow for same-sex civil unions, but they could never be called 'marriage')

There was a tremendous outrage campaign by the SJWs/feminists/LGBT activists, crucifying anyone supporting the measure as a bigot, taliban, religious fanatic, nazi, monster, hateful and so on. All the big Croatian media launched a coordinated campaign in the same vein, excluding and burying any dissenting voices.

Other than rhetoric, they also used all the standard SJW tactics, including witch hunts against any public people (for example, they went after their beloved athlete Blanka Vlašić who expressed her support for the measure, and got many advertising companies to cut sponsorships distance themselves from her). They also engaged in violence, burning the signature-collection stands of the measure's proponents.

While the public had been fairly divided at first, this fanatical attitude and aggression by the SJWs blew up in their faces and, despite dominating all the media, they lost the referendum badly. The measure passed by an overwhelming margin: 65% yes / 35% no.

Penny Tration · 22-05-2015 07:24AM

I hope everyone who said here that they're voting yes, get up and go vote yes.

Too much complacency and we could lose.

I think it's gonna be a very tight win, if the yes is carried.

FluffyAngel · 22-05-2015 07:24AM

Adamantium wrote: »

This is unfurling the same way as it did in Croatia last year, only in our case the question was phrased in the opposite way:

"Are you in support of adding an article for the constitution that says that 'A marriage is an union between a man and a woman'? YES / NO"
(the result of this would still allow for same-sex civil unions, but they could never be called 'marriage')

There was a tremendous outrage campaign by the SJWs/feminists/LGBT activists, crucifying anyone supporting the measure as a bigot, taliban, religious fanatic, nazi, monster, hateful and so on. All the big Croatian media launched a coordinated campaign in the same vein, excluding and burying any dissenting voices.

Other than rhetoric, they also used all the standard SJW tactics, including witch hunts against any public people (for example, they went after their beloved athlete Blanka Vlašić who expressed her support for the measure, and got many advertising companies to cut sponsorships distance themselves from her). They also engaged in violence, burning the signature-collection stands of the measure's proponents.

While the public had been fairly divided at first, this fanatical attitude and aggression by the SJWs blew up in their faces and, despite dominating all the media, they lost the referendum badly. The measure passed by an overwhelming margin: 65% yes / 35% no.

im guessing a lot of lollypops were taken off you as a child ...

efb · 22-05-2015 07:25AM

They No's were not certainly buried - they got equal air time and spoke over Yes speakers in debates

LordSutch · 22-05-2015 07:26AM

efb wrote: »

Done. Voted. Yes to both.

Yes to men marrying men, yes to women marrying women, and yes to a president being 21 years of age :cool:

Its a funny old world.

MonkeyTennis · 22-05-2015 07:27AM

The trouble with the No supporters is that they felt there was more Yes voters.

Which there probably will be.

murphyebass · 22-05-2015 07:27AM

So it's finally here. After all the bickering, name calling and general ill feeling people on both sides finally take to voting.

It really should be without question a yes vote today as there really is no reason to vote no but I have my doubts over it at this point.

Who will turn out to vote?

If the younger generation don't turn out i fear the older generation could make it a very tight decision.

Will there be a big silent vote?

I hope I'm wrong but I just get the feeling that some are saying yes but either still wavering or saying what they know is what people want them to say / pc answer.

Maybe I'm wrong and it'll be a landslide for yes but I really do think the numbers voting and whether or not there's a silent vote count really test this referendum.

FluffyAngel · 22-05-2015 07:29AM

LordSutch wrote: »

Yes to men marrying men, yes to women marrying women, and yes to a president being 21 years of age :cool:

Its a funny old world.

hey look.its a Monster raving loony ..

Mushy · 22-05-2015 07:29AM

Two yes votes in the ballot box now anyway.

Lord Trollington · 22-05-2015 07:35AM

What a massive moment in Irish history. So glad to be alive and apart of it.

Time to throw off the shackles of the past and bring about the dawn of a new Ireland.

Get out and vote people.

VOTE YES

Whosthis · 22-05-2015 07:35AM

Double yes. I had intended voting no in the presidential referendum but the ballot papers only say 34th and 35th amendment and i didn't know which was which.

Edit: At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, why do they provide pencils in the booths and not pens?

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

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