Referendum in Ireland for Same-Sex Marriage; Supporters Win

The referendum for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ireland ended with supporters of the law emerging victorious, marking a milestone in the forty-year struggle for LGBTQ rights in this Catholic country. A Reuters reporter on Saturday, May 23 (2nd of Khordad) from Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, reported that same-sex couples gathered in the city center to celebrate this victory. The report stated that about 2,000 people gathered in front of the historic Dublin Castle, where leaders of the LGBTQ rights movement, including Senator David Norris and Roy O'Neill, were present. According to official statistics from the Irish government, more than 1.8 million Irish citizens participated in the referendum for the legalization of same-sex marriage, which is about 60% of those eligible to vote. However, from the moment the counting of votes began, there was no doubt about the victory of the supporters of this law, as even opposing figures admitted their defeat hours before the official announcement of the results. The British newspaper Telegraph reported that the latest results, prior to the counting of votes from three constituencies in Cork, indicated that supporters had garnered 62.3% of the votes, equivalent to over 1.1 million votes, while opponents of same-sex marriage could only secure 680,000 votes. Thus, the Republic of Ireland has become the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through a referendum. LGBTQ rights advocates in the Republic of Ireland had previously succeeded, 22 years ago, in a widespread campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in the country.