The referendum on same sex marriage will provide Ireland with an opportunity to lead the world by becoming a beacon of light at a time when many gay people live in darkness, the Fine Gael ard fheis was told.

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Ted O’Connell from Bishopstown West warned delegates next year’s referendum was not about what happened in people’s bedrooms. It was about equality of esteem and equality of relationships.

Speaking on a motion supporting gay marriage, where there were no speakers against, Mr O’Connell read out a message he had recently received on Facebook describing the plight of gay people in many countries.

“If I lived in Uganda this week I would be jailed for life. My friends and family would be jailed if the didn’t report me. If I lived in Russia I wouldn’t exist but if I did I would be hunted and abused,” he said.

Read more at irishexaminer.com

Photo By Kurt Löwenstein Educational Center International Team from Germany (qe07 (9)) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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