Monday, November 16, marks the first day Ireland recognizes same-sex marriage licenses registered in other countries. Six months ago, the Irish pubic voted by 62.1 percent to allow gay unions in a historic referendum—the first to do so through a referendum vote. And official recognition of same-sex marriages registered in Ireland is right around the corner.
According to a report filed by the global news agency AFP (Agence France-Presse):
It was a long journey for LGBT campaigners in the traditionally Catholic country that only decriminalised homosexual acts in 1993.
“After years of waiting for this day, it’s just an extraordinary moment for us,” said Senator Katherine Zappone, who lost a High Court case in 2006 to have her Canadian marriage to her wife recognised in Ireland.
The couple plan to bring their “marriage home” in a ceremony in January after Zappone proposed to her wife Ann Louise Gilligan live on national television after the referendum result was announced.
A total of 2,054 couples have entered a civil partnership since Ireland introduced the legal unions in 2011 but a further ceremony will be required to convert these into marriage, with just a few days notice.
Under Irish law, it is required to submit an “intention to marry” to authorities three months before a marriage.
Those already in civil partnerships will only have to give five days notice under the new rules.
And the 187 couples who have applied for civil partnerships since the referendum will be able to get married instead, from as soon as Monday in some cases. …
“People are seeing Ireland in a new light as an LGBT friendly country for honeymoons and holidays too,” said wedding planner Marian Purcell of Gay Weddings Ireland.
But after a long campaign and several milestones, as the new legislation worked its way through parliament, campaigners are looking forward to weddings beginning.
“I suspect people must now be feeling like this is the longest engagement on Earth,” said Colm O’Gorman, chief executive of Amnesty International Ireland and one of the leading “Yes” campaigners.
“We are at last at the stage where people are just getting on with their lives and marriages can happen.”
