Madam, – In the current debate surrounding the Civil Partnership Bill (July 3rd), I’m shocked to learn that some citizens still deny others unconditional equality in the State.
Some of the parallels drawn to South Africa are quite relevant in so far as the chance a society has to make a clean break with an outdated and unjust past to give all citizens the same rights, privileges and obligations.
When the time came to decide on the road ahead, South Africans opted for the big bang approach, rather than the gradual approach as envisaged by legislation such as the Civil Partnership Bill.
The new South African constitution, which resulted from years of negotiation, now guarantees every man, woman and child equality on the basis of humanity and respect.
Everyone who wants to get married is allowed to, and even the tax codes had to be changed to avoid discrimination on the basis of gender or marital status.
Is it time for Ireland, a nation which pursues equality for all on the world stage through diplomacy, to afford its own citizens the same basic entitlement? – Yours, etc,
Madam – Both Tim Jackson and Maghnus Monaghan (July 3rd and 1st) have recently used your letters page to argue against the Civil Partnership Bill. As well as a distaste for all things non-heterosexual, both letters share references to “lifestyle choices” and “lifestyle arrangements”.
The notion of sexuality as a lifestyle choice – akin to buying a certain type of car, growing your own vegetables, or picking a pair of socks – is an interesting one. It suggests it was simply a lifestyle choice that led Jackson and Monaghan to choose to be heterosexual.
Had they been asked to “choose” their preferred sexual lifestyle on another day, might they have been spotted at the Gay Pride parade last Weekend? – Yours. etc,
E. IVERS,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 11.