Do Me A Favour

ABOUT:

Do Me A Favour is a national campaign to help you take a stand for equality, with simple tools you can use, and actions you can take to help your lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender friends and family members.

You can find the campaign on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marriagequality/app_356442777798241

WHY:

Why do you need me to do LGBT people in Ireland a favour? 

You may be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) yourself, or you may have a friend or family member who is.  Either way, you have an important role to play in the campaign for marriage equality.  Both at home and abroad, allies like you have been invaluable both personally and politically.

In the US last year, 3 states won marriage equality with a popular vote – that’s friends, family, neighbours and coworkers all coming out to vote in favour of equality for same sex couples.  The Irish Government has indicated that introducing marriage equality in Ireland would require a referendum.  That means friends and family like you helping to campaign, visiting your TDs and standing up for your LGBT friends and family, because you believe they deserve equality.

Your LGBT friends and family members can’t win marriage equality without your help.

LEARN:

Same sex couples and marriage

Marriage equality is about every day Irish people who want the same opportunities as everyone else – to make lifelong commitments to the person they love, to have their love celebrated as equal to anyone else’s, and to protect and care for their families and children.

In Ireland, same sex couples can register Civil Partnerships.  Although Civil Partnerships are a positive first step for these couples, it is still not the same as marriage in some very real ways.  These range from immigration issues, to legal issues, to important protections for same sex couples and their children.

But most of all, it’s about equality.  Marriage is about loving, committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other in good times and in bad.  Denying someone the chance to marry the person they love, just because of their sexual orientation, is hurtful.

But you don't have to take our word for it - watch our new video "Yes To Love" and hear from real couples and families about why marriage matters to them.

Same sex couples and their families

Most people in Ireland would agree that we all want what is best for children.  But did you know that children with LGBT parents are not protected the same way as children with married, heterosexual parents?

Under Ireland’s Civil Partnership Act, a child only has a legal relationship with his or her BIOLOGICAL parent.  That means the other parent – who may have raised the child from birth – is a legal stranger with no legal relationship.  The same applies to a partner who may wish to be a step-parent.

Additionally, an LGBT person may apply to adopt as an individual, but same sex couples are not permitted to jointly adopt – although they may choose to become foster carers.  Not allowing qualified, loving LGBT parents to adopt hurts children, keeps them in State care, and deprives them of caring homes they so desperately need.

What does all this mean?  Well, for just one example, click below to watch our short film “Rory’s Story”.

TAKE ACTION:

Share a video or a message

Sometimes it’s the little things that can spark off a conversation.  Share our videos and help get people talking!

Join the campaign

Want to get even MORE involved in the campaign for equality?  Visit www.marriagequality.ie/getinvolved for ideas on how to help further the cause!

From talking to TDs, to becoming a volunteer, to hosting a fundraiser… there are lots of ways to get involved!

Marriage Equality's "Do Me A Favour" campaign is made possible thanks to the generous support of: