Samuel Riggs ¦ Editor
Over 5,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Dublin today for the annual March for Marriage, organised by LGBT* Noise and Marriage Equality.
The March, which starts at 3pm by the City Hall on Parliament St and will proceed to the Department of Justice, comes ahead of the upcoming 2015 referendum in spring, announced by Taoisech Enda Kenny earlier in the summer. Students of Trinity are expected to come out in force in support, marching with QSOC, TCDSU and USI as a part of the delegation.
The March, now in its 4th year, will feature a large parade, followed by a series of speakers, who will urge the public to vote in favour of this law. The government have pledged their support to a campaign for the introduction of equal marriage in to Irish State Law, and a ‘Yes’ vote has been predicted by many organisations, including the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and the Irish Times. A recent poll conducted by the latter earlier this year found that 67% of people were going to vote ‘Yes’, while 21% would vote ‘No’, and 12% were undecided. ‘Yes’ was the favoured option across all boards, including in the 60+ age bracket, where 44% said they would vote in favour.
Grainne Carley, chairwoman of Marriage Equality, said “Marriage represents to others a recognition and celebration of the love and commitment of the couple. For the couple themselves it represents social recognition and acceptance and equality of status for their loving relationships and family.”
Should you wish to participate in the March, the Trinity delegation will be congregating at 2.30pm at Mandela House today.
