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| Gay Marriage Appears Headed for Approval in Ireland | Gay Marriage Appears Headed for Approval in Ireland |
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| DUBLIN — Ireland appeared poised on Saturday to become the world’s first nation to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote, with early vote counts showing strong and broad support for a measure that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago in what traditionally had been a Roman Catholic stronghold. | DUBLIN — Ireland appeared poised on Saturday to become the world’s first nation to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote, with early vote counts showing strong and broad support for a measure that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago in what traditionally had been a Roman Catholic stronghold. |
| Not long after counting began at Dublin Castle, a government complex that was once the epicenter of British rule, the leader of the opposition, David Quinn, the director of the Iona Institute, conceded the outcome in a tweet: “Congratulations to the Yes side. Well done.” | Not long after counting began at Dublin Castle, a government complex that was once the epicenter of British rule, the leader of the opposition, David Quinn, the director of the Iona Institute, conceded the outcome in a tweet: “Congratulations to the Yes side. Well done.” |
| Both proponents and opponents said the only remaining question was the size of the victory for approval. Ronan Mullen, an Irish senator and one of only a few politicians to oppose the measure, predicted the win would be “substantial.” The official results will be announced Saturday afternoon. | |
| The referendum changes Ireland’s Constitution so that marriages between two people would be legal “without distinction as to their sex.” | The referendum changes Ireland’s Constitution so that marriages between two people would be legal “without distinction as to their sex.” |
| That the vote even came to pass barely two decades after Ireland decriminalized homosexuality accentuated the cultural change afoot and the church’s declining influence after a series of scandals. But the vote is also the latest chapter in a sharpening global cultural clash. While marriage equality is surging in the West, gay rights are under renewed attack in Russia, in parts of Africa, and from Islamic extremists, most notably the Islamic State. | |
| Though 84 percent of the Irish are Catholic, church attendance has faded, and the once-lockstep solidarity with church teachings has eroded, a result of rising secularism and reaction to the pedophile scandals that have rocked the church. | Though 84 percent of the Irish are Catholic, church attendance has faded, and the once-lockstep solidarity with church teachings has eroded, a result of rising secularism and reaction to the pedophile scandals that have rocked the church. |
| In Ireland, there was support for marriage across the political spectrum, including from Prime Minister Enda Kenny of the center-right Fine Gael party, and his Labour coalition partner, which had pushed for the referendum. Sinn Fein, an opposition party, also expressed support. | In Ireland, there was support for marriage across the political spectrum, including from Prime Minister Enda Kenny of the center-right Fine Gael party, and his Labour coalition partner, which had pushed for the referendum. Sinn Fein, an opposition party, also expressed support. |
| Gay rights activists around the world said a victory would be an important milestone. | Gay rights activists around the world said a victory would be an important milestone. |
| “I think this is a moment that rebrands Ireland to a lot of folks around the world as a country not stuck in tradition but that has an inclusive tradition,” said Ty Cobb, the international director of the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based advocacy group. | “I think this is a moment that rebrands Ireland to a lot of folks around the world as a country not stuck in tradition but that has an inclusive tradition,” said Ty Cobb, the international director of the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based advocacy group. |
| Campaigning on both sides of the debate had been underway for months, with posters, billboards and commercials. One opposition commercial said, “You should be able to have reservations about gay marriage without being called a homophobe,” while a commercial supporting same-sex marriage featured young people encouraging their parents to vote. | Campaigning on both sides of the debate had been underway for months, with posters, billboards and commercials. One opposition commercial said, “You should be able to have reservations about gay marriage without being called a homophobe,” while a commercial supporting same-sex marriage featured young people encouraging their parents to vote. |
| Late in the campaign, four Catholic bishops urged parishioners to vote against the measure. Thousands are believed to have returned to Ireland to take part in the vote. | Late in the campaign, four Catholic bishops urged parishioners to vote against the measure. Thousands are believed to have returned to Ireland to take part in the vote. |
| Soon after the first ballot boxes were opened, and paper yes and no votes began to stack up in front of ballot counters at long tables in a cavernous hall, it became apparent that the referendum would likely pass. | Soon after the first ballot boxes were opened, and paper yes and no votes began to stack up in front of ballot counters at long tables in a cavernous hall, it became apparent that the referendum would likely pass. |
| David Norris, an Irish senator who 30 years ago helped start the campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in the country, said he was surprised by the level of support for the referendum that he helped champion. “It was wonderful the vote was so overwhelming,” he said. “The straight people of Ireland have said welcome to the Irish family. This should be a template for the rest of the world.” | David Norris, an Irish senator who 30 years ago helped start the campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in the country, said he was surprised by the level of support for the referendum that he helped champion. “It was wonderful the vote was so overwhelming,” he said. “The straight people of Ireland have said welcome to the Irish family. This should be a template for the rest of the world.” |
| In a news release, the Iona Institute congratulated the yes side for “a very professional campaign that in truth began long before the official campaign started.” | In a news release, the Iona Institute congratulated the yes side for “a very professional campaign that in truth began long before the official campaign started.” |
| Mr. Quinn said he believed the opponents “fought a good campaign.” | Mr. Quinn said he believed the opponents “fought a good campaign.” |
| “It was always going to be an uphill battle,” he said. “However, we helped to provide a voice to the hundreds of thousands of Irish people who did vote no. | “It was always going to be an uphill battle,” he said. “However, we helped to provide a voice to the hundreds of thousands of Irish people who did vote no. |
| “Going forward,” he said, according to the release, “we will continue to affirm the importance of the biological ties and of motherhood and fatherhood. We hope the government will address the concerns voters on the no side have about the implications for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.” | “Going forward,” he said, according to the release, “we will continue to affirm the importance of the biological ties and of motherhood and fatherhood. We hope the government will address the concerns voters on the no side have about the implications for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.” |
| At Dublin Castle, a few hundred people had gathered at noon as news came that the no side had conceded defeat. They wore rainbow flags, buttons and T-shirts with Yes Equality written on them. | At Dublin Castle, a few hundred people had gathered at noon as news came that the no side had conceded defeat. They wore rainbow flags, buttons and T-shirts with Yes Equality written on them. |
| “I’m too hyper to talk,” one woman wrapped in a rainbow flag said. | “I’m too hyper to talk,” one woman wrapped in a rainbow flag said. |
| Some conceded that much of the celebrating had come the night before. | Some conceded that much of the celebrating had come the night before. |
| “Even yesterday there was just a weird sense of optimism across Dublin,” said Colum O’Hara, a 28-year-old in public relations at an advertising firm. “Last night felt like Christmas Eve.” | “Even yesterday there was just a weird sense of optimism across Dublin,” said Colum O’Hara, a 28-year-old in public relations at an advertising firm. “Last night felt like Christmas Eve.” |
| “It’s a great day for Ireland,” he added. | “It’s a great day for Ireland,” he added. |
| In downtown Dublin, people wore their Yes buttons, and the atmosphere was happy. The sun was out, the brightest it had been in days. | In downtown Dublin, people wore their Yes buttons, and the atmosphere was happy. The sun was out, the brightest it had been in days. |
| Nick O’Connell, 42, who comes from a rural area in County Kilkenny in the Irish Midlands, was cradling a celebratory drink in a Dublin bar, the Back Lounge. He said he had been too afraid to come out as gay until his mid 20s. | Nick O’Connell, 42, who comes from a rural area in County Kilkenny in the Irish Midlands, was cradling a celebratory drink in a Dublin bar, the Back Lounge. He said he had been too afraid to come out as gay until his mid 20s. |
| “Today I’m thinking of all those young people over the years who were bullied and committed suicide because of their sexuality. This vote was for them, too.” | “Today I’m thinking of all those young people over the years who were bullied and committed suicide because of their sexuality. This vote was for them, too.” |
| He added: “This is different from other countries because it was the people who gave it to us, not a legislature.” | He added: “This is different from other countries because it was the people who gave it to us, not a legislature.” |