I was asked 3 times yesterday about gay people in the Irish Army and if they were allowed to serve. The hearings to examine the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) have commenced in the USA and Obama has promised to remove the bar on lesbians and gay men serving openly in the US […]
Tags:Defence Forces·Gay Lesbian and Bisexual·Ireland·Sexual orientation
The Public Sector Executive Union recently conducted research amongst members regarding their experiences in the workplace of lgbt issues. (Sunday Tribune article) The survey was aimed at lgbt members but other members also completed it. The initiative was led by the Union President Fiona Lee and Deputy General Secretary Billy Hannigan and funded by EU […]
Tags:Discrimination·Employment·Gay Lesbian and Bisexual·Irish Civil Service·LGBT·Sexual orientation
Very interesting blog post from FG Senator Paschal Donohue opposing the tabling never mind inclusion of an amendment to the Civil Partnership Bill allowing service providers and others not to provide services to those taking part in Civil Partnerships. Paschal has three reasons for his opposition. 1. Firstly, the law is the law. We cannot […]
Tags:#cpbill·Civil Partnership Bill·Freedom of thought·Sexual orientation
According to today’s Observer, the European Commission has told the UK Government that it must change a new Equality Law as the exemption proposed for Religious bodies contravenes ‘an EU directive prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of a person’s sexual orientation.’ The law allowed religious groups to discriminate against gay employees “so as to avoid conflicting […]
Tags:#cpbill·Directive·Discrimination·European Commission·European Union·Religion·Sexual orientation
Firstly for those people who’ve waited for the moment the state actually recognises their relationship and offers a chance to get their affairs in order I’m sure yesterday was a very good day and by the end of the year or early next year there will be a lot of people queuing up to get […]
Tags:Gay Lesbian and Bisexual·Lesbian·Marriage·Mary Hanafin·Minister for Social and Family Affairs·Sexual orientation