I will be voting yes, presuming yes means allowing marriage equality. Not so much because I think the civil partner legislation is lacking, but more that it would be a signal of true equality.
On the Claire Byrne show, a lot of the talk was about children and associated rights. My overall view is that every child needs protection be they born of marriage, outside marriage, to gay parents (of either gender) or whatever. So, broad assumptions of quality of care or "better for the child" are not reliable IMHO.
As regards same sex parents, I'm reminded of a quote from Juno & the Paycock (O'Casey play) - this is approximate now; Woman 1: "the poor lad, he'll have to grow up without a father"
Woman 2: "sure he'll have what's better, two mothers".
However, does society have a different view re 2 fathers?, I think it does. Maybe this goes back to the "all men are useless with babies or, generally, domestically" like all the washing powder ads etc tell us. But is there a darker more unspoken fear??, two men and a small child, are people subconsciously making a jump to paedophilia? I'm sure stats say that most abuse happens between the biological father and daughter, however we're in such a frenzy off the back of clerical abuse scandals (adult men and small boys) that it permeates everything - e.g. coaching kids, I think I'd spontaneously combust if some parent didnt show up and there was a risk I'd be left alone with their child - not that I'd let it happen, at a minimum I'd have my own lads or another adult around - but you know what I mean, will that hysteria leak into this debate.
I'd welcome some expert to come forward and give us the facts and the stats (which I'd imagine are positive), that gay men are less of a risk to children, there is no link between homosexuality and paedophilia. I'd imagine gay men adopting/fathering a surrogate will have more involvement with social services than others (not saying they should, but I betcha they will/do), so I think this should not be an issue.
In one way I'm reluctant to even bring up this topic, but all the same I think if Ireland wants to move on we have to confront the darkest corners and let in the light. I will guarantee that, in the debate, there will be loads of negative inference about 2 father families, but it'll be careful and insidious.
p.s. Donal Og programme was good, shows we're some bit down the road compared to other places.
On the Claire Byrne show, a lot of the talk was about children and associated rights. My overall view is that every child needs protection be they born of marriage, outside marriage, to gay parents (of either gender) or whatever. So, broad assumptions of quality of care or "better for the child" are not reliable IMHO.
As regards same sex parents, I'm reminded of a quote from Juno & the Paycock (O'Casey play) - this is approximate now; Woman 1: "the poor lad, he'll have to grow up without a father"
Woman 2: "sure he'll have what's better, two mothers".
However, does society have a different view re 2 fathers?, I think it does. Maybe this goes back to the "all men are useless with babies or, generally, domestically" like all the washing powder ads etc tell us. But is there a darker more unspoken fear??, two men and a small child, are people subconsciously making a jump to paedophilia? I'm sure stats say that most abuse happens between the biological father and daughter, however we're in such a frenzy off the back of clerical abuse scandals (adult men and small boys) that it permeates everything - e.g. coaching kids, I think I'd spontaneously combust if some parent didnt show up and there was a risk I'd be left alone with their child - not that I'd let it happen, at a minimum I'd have my own lads or another adult around - but you know what I mean, will that hysteria leak into this debate.
I'd welcome some expert to come forward and give us the facts and the stats (which I'd imagine are positive), that gay men are less of a risk to children, there is no link between homosexuality and paedophilia. I'd imagine gay men adopting/fathering a surrogate will have more involvement with social services than others (not saying they should, but I betcha they will/do), so I think this should not be an issue.
In one way I'm reluctant to even bring up this topic, but all the same I think if Ireland wants to move on we have to confront the darkest corners and let in the light. I will guarantee that, in the debate, there will be loads of negative inference about 2 father families, but it'll be careful and insidious.
p.s. Donal Og programme was good, shows we're some bit down the road compared to other places.