Why I am voting yes for same sex marriage

May 5th, 2015

A year ago (today I think)I asked Fergus to marry me. It was 2 am lieing on a bed that doubled as a kitchen table on a houseboat in carlow(kind of  run down rosie and Jim style thing) . I had no ring and it wasn’t planned it was just the right moment.

I asked him because I love him . and because when he is around I feel safe and happy. When he is around I usually feel calm and I think if only ever had one anxiety attack when he was around. As opposed to the two or three a week I usually can expect.

Now, lately the anxiety has been worse then usual . Largely because I am dreading the 22 of may and because I am seeing horrible posters filled with misinformation designed to scare good decent people into voting no . things that conflate unrelated issues. And I see the nice decent looking women on TV advocate treating me as a second class citizen. Comments and posters go off like bombs in my head and they have left me in turns anxious and angry.

I should note I asked him to marry me not for a civil partnership because I love him as much as any other couple gay or straight. I want him to have all rights and protections of marriage . nobody dreams of a civil partnership they dream of love and marriage. I want a husband and I want Fergus to be that husband.

This is where you come in.  VOTE YES for people like me who just want to be able to call the person they Love their husband or wife. So that we can have the same recognition as our straight brothers and sisters. Do it because your son or daughter might be gay and want the same. Do it because equality makes society as a whole better.

It makes my blood boil that I have to ask permission from a whole country to marry the man I love. But a resounding yes would feel fantastic.

If you have your reservations about voting yes. I am happy to talk about them with you and help you set those concerns aside as I am sure every other gay person and campaigner is more then willing to do.

Thanks
Stephen Hanrahan

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