Ireland's gay marriage vote: 5 things to know
DUBLIN — Irish voters are being asked whether to approve a constitutional change that extends marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Here are five things you need to know:
1. It's a public vote. Eighteen countries, mostly in Europe, permit gay marriages but all approved same-sex marriage through legislation or the courts. Ireland would be the first to do so in a national referendum.
2. Ireland already has same-sex partnerships. Civil unions were introduced in 2010 and this gave some of the same legal and financial protections to gay couples as those enjoyed in opposite-sex marriages. Experts say there are about two dozen legal gaps remaining between partnerships and marriage, mainly centered around issues of child adoption and guardianship. Supporters of same-sex marriage say the issue is less about these legal gaps than about striving to secure equal rights.
3. What does the Catholic church say? About 85% of Irish people self-identify as Catholics, and social and religious conservatism has long been associated with Ireland. Abortion is still illegal and homosexuality was only decriminalized in 1993. The country's clergy is opposed to extending marriage rights to the gay community, arguing that it would fundamentally alter the definition of marriage and redraw the concept of the family. However, its opposition has been less vocal than in the past.
4. How close is it? A year ago, 80% of those polled said they would back gay marriage. By last week, when the final poll was released, that figure had fallen to about 70%. But the Irish government — which wants the vote passed — has been warning in recent days that the "No" camp has been gaining momentum. Analysts and commentators have warned that there may be a significant part of the Irish electorate that is reluctant to publicly oppose gay marriage.
5. What if it's a 'No'? If the final results released Saturday show the referendum is rejected, the government has no immediate plans to pursue gay marriage legislation through the courts or parliament, as happened when Slovenia's electorate in 2012 spurned a chance to adopt same-sex marriage. Oran Doyle, a constitutional law expert at Trinity College Dublin, said that what the Irish government may try to do instead is to wait five or 10 years and hold another referendum.
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