Love is Blind! Dublin Queer Marriage Equality Demo

by Conor.M Thu Feb 12, 2009 22:59

Thanks Paul.
I'll be there, proud to be straight, with people who are proud to be LGBT.

EQUAL RIGHTS

by Paul McAndrew - Cork WSM Fri Feb 13, 2009 14:57

Thanks, Conor.

Appreciated :)

by cvp. Fri Feb 13, 2009 15:18

Anarchists advocating state marriage, wonders never cease.

If you're in love with someone and want to spend your life with them, just do it.

You dont need the state to legitimise your love for someone, its enough in itself.

(queers and straights alike)

by Paul McAndrew - Cork WSM Fri Feb 13, 2009 17:46

cvp, you have a fair point
(dread to think what Emma Goldman 'd say)

However,I don't advocate marriage,
and wouldn't want to be married
(at least not with recognition from a state)

I do oppose laws which define queer people as 2nd class citizens.

Similarly I would have opposed racist laws which barred black and white people from marrying each other

Paul

by min Fri Feb 13, 2009 19:16

There's also the benefit of not paying capital gains tax on any inheritance from your spouse.... among other things. In some cases people are left in homes they have to sell or remortgage because they can't afford the inheritance tax.

by nokiko Sat Feb 14, 2009 17:25 nokiko at mutualaid dot org

What's up family!
I live in Massachusetts where several of my friends, not anarchist, are queer and married to one another. I have the same confusion about state sanctioned marrige, rights, responsibilites, etc, as my queer anarchist comrades and was raised by repressed Irish-american catholics. I spent 1998 in Galway and can only imagine the hell of growing up queer in the home land. I praise all your public support work. So while i don't care for marrige, i see the faults and validation from the state doesn't matter anywhere else in my life, i do support my friends who want equal legal treatment, such as being allowed to visit thier spouse or children at the hospital, picking them up from school or work , paying what straight folks pay to own a home, live in a community and work.

You can drive across massachusetts faster than yo ucan drive from galway to dublin, it's a tiny state in a big nation but there is a feeling here, for almost 5 years now, we are treated as valid families, socially and politacally.
My girlfiend and i have 3 kids between us and we are safe to walk down the steet with are families without violence and harassment. There are always going to be assholes, bigots, racist pigs, etc.
I'm a brassy, punk-ass, queer anarchist, i can take care of idiots myself, it's not always so aweful to use the state to help those who can't protect themselves against the knuckleheads, while we create a supportive infrastucture that can serve as a viable alternative to the state.
I don't pretend to understand Irish culture and law, i'm just your long lost 42nd cousin letting you know that here in massachusetts my queer anarchist comrades tend to support equal treatment as it is important for the safety of our community, and the rights of our families. Peace family.

by Conor. M - S.E.E.D Sun Feb 15, 2009 03:25

fair play nokiko, sure its all about equal rights for all humans. Anyway, were all just one at the end of the day.... American, European, black, white, man, woman, queer, straight. Ultimately, Whats the fucking difference?

by Mike - JudeanPopular Peoples Front Sun Feb 15, 2009 14:12

"There's also the benefit of not paying capital gains tax on any inheritance from your spouse"

Not to mention:
A whole load of medical consent/next of kin stuff
Being able to live with a non-EU citizen
Inheritance rights in the absence of a will
Child access rights and maintenance obligations.
A lot of tax benefits some alread mentioned but worth reiterating

Ideally of course all these rights would be available to all cohabiting partners (Gay/Straight/Other) without recourse to the bizzare and anachronistic insttution of marriage but until that day dawns the state should either legalise for Gay marriage or abolish all state recognition of hetrosexual marriage.

by ... Sun Feb 15, 2009 16:42

..What was the turnout like yesterda?