Sir, – As the Government bamboozles us with a plethora of words about its ideas for family law, many of us wonder why the hurry?
Why not get the marriage equality referendum out of the way first?
Then assess the situation resulting from that, then if it is reasonable, sort out with the electorate this newly-cobbled bill on children and family relationships.
After that we may find ourselves looking at problems, such as that of the two elderly brothers (or sisters) who live together back in Polnagapallin, trying to work out whether they will be allowed to adopt a child to enable themselves to get extra government grants for a new roof.
The prophecy of the fairytale of the future will end with the line “and so the prince married the prince and they lived happily while planning to find themselves a son”.
The whole thing is “heir raising”. – Yours, etc, ANGELA MACNAMARA Churchtown, Dublin 14. Sir, – Those against the marriage equality referendum put a huge emphasis on children’s welfare; however none of them seem to think of the many LGBTQ children and young people who struggle with mental health issues every day due to feeling they do not belong. People who are denied the same rights because of who they are.
I feel sad when I see articles and debates, essentially discussing my friends and relatives, saying that their love is not as valid as others or that their ability to raise a child is not adequate. How gut-wrenching must it feel to have people discuss what rights you are entitled to as if you are a second-class citizen?
Many of the children that those who are against the referendum claim to want to protect will grow up to be LGBTQ and they will feel oppressed and devalued because this country tells them they are not normal.
The defeat of this referendum will do more damage than being raised by a same-sex couple could ever do. – Yours, etc, SARAH CURRAN Sutton, Dublin 13