Ireland finally signs equal marriage bill into law

After months of legal hurdles and delays, Ireland’s Presidential Commission (in the absence of President Michael D Higgins) signed the same-sex marriage bill into law yesterday, reports The Irish Times.

The bill will enact the results of May’s historic, when the country made history after 62.1% of voters said yes to equal marriage, a landmark step that recently won Greatest Moment of the Year at the Attitude Awards.

Ireland’s Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, who will issue a commencement order for the new law, said the first ceremonies could be held around mid-November.

In a statement, Senator Katherine Zappone called the news “a deeply emotional moment for those of us who have campaigned for so long”.

Zappone notably proposed to her wife Ann Louise Gilligan on live television after the referendum results were announced, asking to re-marry Gilligan, whom she originally wed in Canada.

Evelyne Paradis, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, added, “Tribute must also be paid to national politicians in Ireland, as all the main political parties put aside their partisan differences to campaign for the greater goal of equality.”

A happy day indeed.

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