For Immediate Release

Gay Marriage Debate, hosted by NUI Galway Literary & Debating Society

“This House Would Grant Same Sex Couples all the Same Rights as Heterosexual Couples”

The NUI Galway Literary & Debating Society will be hosting a debate on the subject of the gay marriage at 7pm on Thursday January 14th in the Kirwan Lecture Theatre on the main Arts Concourse of NUI Galway.

Gay Marriage has been one of the biggest issues in Irish society for years. Homosexual relationships are broadly accepted in Ireland yet gay couples are excluded from one of the most basic and important ceremonies that couples can experience to show their love and commitment to one another. Surely if we accept that two men or two women can be together, we should allow them to do anything that they need to be a ‘real family’.

Is Ireland lagging behind the rest of Europe and the world? Is the notion of two men or two women getting married just a step too far for this country? Are we so blinkered that we can see only the church’s definition of a marriage as being the right one? When people’s rights are at stake, there must be a better reason than religious tradition or the gender makeup of the plastic couple on top of the wedding cake to prevent this change.

Then again, when the state can guarantee you all the rights of a married couple, maybe the gay community should let marriage remain as is, and not stage a coup against an age old tradition for the sake of a simple ceremony. Many countries have adopted the idea of a ‘civil partnership’, which meets most of criteria that gay marriage campaigners are looking for, why isn’t that enough?

Brian Merriman, Artistic Director of this year’s Dublin Gay Theatre Festival will be speaking in favour of this motion, and in opposition will be Senator Ronan Mullen. All are welcome to attend and following the main debate, speakers will have the chance to put their voice and vote to the test on the motion: “This House Would Grant Same Sex Couples all the Same Rights as Heterosexual Couples”.

A Word Document of this press release is attached to this email.

Best regards,

The NUI Galway Literary & Debating Society will be hosting a debate on the subject of the gay marriage at 7pm on Thursday January 14th in the Kirwan Lecture Theatre on the main Arts Concourse of NUI Galway.

Gay Marriage has been one of the biggest issues in Irish society for years. Homosexual relationships are broadly accepted in Ireland yet gay couples are excluded from one of the most basic and important ceremonies that couples can experience to show their love and commitment to one another. Surely if we accept that two men or two women can be together, we should allow them to do anything that they need to be a ‘real family’.

Is Ireland lagging behind the rest of Europe and the world? Is the notion of two men or two women getting married just a step too far for this country? Are we so blinkered that we can see only the church’s definition of a marriage as being the right one? When people’s rights are at stake, there must be a better reason than religious tradition or the gender makeup of the plastic couple on top of the wedding cake to prevent this change.

Then again, when the state can guarantee you all the rights of a married couple, maybe the gay community should let marriage remain as is, and not stage a coup against an age old tradition for the sake of a simple ceremony. Many countries have adopted the idea of a ‘civil partnership’, which meets most of criteria that gay marriage campaigners are looking for, why isn’t that enough?

Brian Merriman, Artistic Director of this year’s Dublin Gay Theatre Festival will be speaking in favour of this motion, and in opposition will be Senator Ronan Mullen. All are welcome to attend and following the main debate, speakers will have the chance to put their voice and vote to the test on the motion: “This House Would Grant Same Sex Couples all the Same Rights as Heterosexual Couples”.

Best regards,