The "Debate" On Same-Sex Marriage

They can call it an educated clashing of ideas all they like; I call it a shambles.

So far, even in respectable newspapers like The Irish Times (pretty much the only one over here), the arguments put forward have been shot down like particularly poorly-made balloons. And yet the government makes no move forward on the issue, even now as they near election time. Does it surprise me? Nope. In fact, we've always been in the throes of the Catholic Church when it comes to law-making; it's sobering to remember just when homosexuality was legalised in this country. It was 1995. Yes, you read it right: we missed the sixties; we ignored the seventies; disco and grunge passed us by. We just kept on denying people the right to choose their own sexuality until 1995.

And, in a significant way, we're still doing it. While the problem of immigration is more subtle than the racist/anti-racist attitudes pasted to it, there are no nuances when it comes to marriage. You're either allowed to marry or you're not; the feather-light "arguments" put up against same-sex marriage are visibly flawed. The most-cited example in Irish news is that of child-bearing: gay couples can not reproduce, therefore they cannot marry, as suddenly - and unbeknownst to most of us - procreation is an essential part of marriage. And no matter how many hundreds write to editors making perfectly valid points (such as the fact that infertile couples are still allowed to marry, though they cannot produce children), this inexplicably poor argument is still touted day in and day out.

It is time for a more open debate, involving - more than any other - the groups whom the legislation will actually effect. If there's one thing I hate about the governement system in Ireland (and probably elsewhere, too), it's that all legislation is discussed and edited by middle-aged, wealthy, white men. Legislation concerning social welfare for the unemployed, healthcare regimes for the elderly, funding for people working in the arts, and - most irritatingly for me - legislation protecting the youth of the country: all of these things are dealt with behind closed doors by a group of balding men. I know we elected them, but surely they don't have to shut us out quite so much? What we need is open forums for interested parties, and clearer information for the average Joe (or Josephine) - even those too young to have the vote.

And gay marriage. For God's sake. It's time, already.