Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Civil partnership 'cements inequality'

Civil partnership has cemented inequality in Ireland, it was claimed yesterday.

Singer Brian Kennedy will be among the hundreds expected to take to the streets of Dublin next Sunday to march for marriage equality for LGBT -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender -- people.

Max Krzyzanowski, of the action group LGBT Noise, said the denial of civil marriage equality in Ireland was a human rights issue.

"The Civil Partnership Act 2011 has only served to cement inequality in Irish society by explicitly excluding LGBT people from the institution of marriage. By granting legislation that only offers a portion of the rights and responsibilities of marriage, LGBT couples are forced to participate in their own discrimination out of urgent necessity to have their legal and financial arrangements recognised," he said.

LGBT Noise called on the Government to demonstrate its commitment to equality for all by lifting the ban on same-sex marriage.