Ireland’s new same-sex marriage law comes into force today, six months after the country voted to allow gay unions in a historic referendum.
Existing same-sex marriages registered abroad will be immediately recognized in Ireland, while other couples can now submit their intention to marry, reports Yahoo News.
“Today we celebrate the final legal step in the remarkable Irish journey to equality for lesbian and gay people. From next week lesbian and gay couples will be apply to get married and share in the same constitutional status as every other citizen” said Kieran Rose, Ireland’s Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) Co-Chair.
“It is a truly joyful and historic moment, not just for lesbian and gay people, their families and friends, but for all Irish people. It is the end of a long legal journey that began with decriminalisation in 1993, equality legislation in 1990s, Civil Partnership in 2010 and culminated in the passing of the marriage equality referendum in May. The Tánaiste and Minster Fitzgerald are to be congratulated for the role they have played in that journey As we approach the centenary of 1916 we can celebrate the Irish people’s determination, as shown in the referendum result, to continue to make the words of the proclamation real for all” Rose continued.
It has been a long journey for LGBT campaigners in the traditionally Catholic country that only decriminalized homosexual acts in 1993.
