Una Mullally: Politicians use same-sex marriage shield to deflect abortion fire

In recent weeks, I’ve found myself many times saying, “I can’t believe it’s been a year.”

The anniversary of the successful marriage equality referendum campaign is looming, and plenty of people are being reminded of the emotion, tenacity and dignity of that campaign. I can’t believe it’s been a year.

The new programme for government promises four new referendums; repealing the Eighth Amendment is not among them.

That issue, to reverse a 33-year-old amendment that saw Ireland create a constitutional ban on abortion, drags on. I can't believe it's been 33 years.

Back when marriage equality was a contentious issue, with few politicians willing to take the lead, it was kicked into touch to a constitutional convention.

When the convention voted overwhelmingly to make marriage equal, politicians could turn around to the electorate, who were far less flaky, and say “the convention made us do it”.

It was a get-out clause for a change many politicians eventually wanted but didn’t have the guts to claim.

History now repeats itself. The Eighth Amendment will be kicked into touch in a “citizens assembly”, whatever that will be and whenever that will happen.

Pity the poor politicians who have to be coddled and coerced with their hands held, in order to show leadership on a referendum that is long overdue.

When the assembly concludes, they can say “the assembly made us do it”, safe knowing that they didn’t have to show leadership on an issue that is just too tricky for its own good.

Last Wednesday, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, replied to a barrage of countries at the United Nations Human Rights Council, which were calling for Ireland to address our draconian abortion laws.

Fitzgerald said the new Government has made a commitment to establish a citizens’ assembly to make recommendations to our parliament on constitutional changes regarding the Eighth Amendment.

And so the deflection begins. Ireland was once again being embarrassed on a international stage for criminalising women, and forcing them to seek medical care in foreign countries. Shame on us.

How satisfied politicians must be with this citizens’ assembly. It’s a triumph in kicking the can down the road.

And while the can is kicked, women suffer in so many ways, the layers upon layers of oppression, the lack of bodily autonomy causes, from the journeys women have to make outside Ireland for terminations to the claustrophobic torment of being told by your State that you do not own your own body.

Fitzgerald was keen to highlight the gallant strides Ireland had made by voting in equal marriage.

But there is no point looking for a gold star when our entire nation resides under a black mark.

Silent matters

Later that evening, at the launch of A Day in May, Charlie Bird’s new collection of stories from LGBT people, Enda Kenny took to the podium to speak bombastically about the impact of the referendum.

I stood next to Ursula Halligan as he referenced the Martin Luther King quote she cited when she came out: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” They sure do.

"Noli timere," Kenny continued. Don't be afraid. Kenny spoke about a "young girl who stood on Baggot Street bridge with a placard that said, 'will you come out for us?' I said I will."

He talked about the moments “where we dare to address an issue and to right a wrong.”

So why are you silent about the things that matter, Taoiseach? Are you afraid? Will you come out for us? Are you going to right a wrong?

Politicians have slipped discs patting themselves on the back for the marriage referendum, when everyone knows many of them had to be dragged kicking and screaming to face the issue, and that the decades of grunt work was done by LGBT people and their real allies.

Marriage equality was only a stop on a journey. The destination is full equality for all; for women’s reproductive rights, for the people imprisoned in direct provision, for Travellers denied their ethnicity, for people screaming for help from inadequate mental health services, for people with disabilities treated terribly, for children living in poverty, for elderly people living in fear, for the thousands without homes, for flimsy hate crime legislation, and all the other inequalities this nation presides over.

Hijacked narrative

As the narrative of LGBT rights has been co-opted by conservative politicians, I am dismayed by those who now see fit to claim a history to which they turned up late.

The LGBT community knows which politicians were really there in the dark days.

So, when other politicians look for affirmation for being nice to the gays, I say to Kenny and company: I, like many others, did not fight tooth and nail for marriage equality for my newfound rights to be used as a shield to deflect the much more urgent human rights issues in this country.

We did not wear down the soles of our shoes canvassing, or have tough conversations with our families, or be abused on the streets, or cry in the voting booths, so you can claim that victory while denying women their rights.

The people won last year. And the people will win again.