Ireland poised to vote ‘yes’ for gay marriage

Ireland, long a bastion of social and religious conservatism, is poised this week to become the first country to approve same-sex marriage by a national referendum.

Before Friday’s vote, polls show a sizable majority support amending Ireland’s constitution to give same-sex couples the same marriage rights as opposite-sex couples.

An Irish Times/ Ipsos MRBI poll published last weekend showed about 70% of Irish voters favor the change, a small decline from a poll in March. Many top names in government, sports and entertainment endorse the move.

The Catholic Church — in a country where roughly 85% are Catholic — is spearheading an uphill battle to defeat the measure.

“This is what the referendum is about: equality. Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love,” Prime Minister Enda Kenny told USA TODAY on Tuesday.

Ireland introduced same-sex civil unions in 2010, and partner- ship ceremonies have taken place in every county.

“This is the first time that a full, civil-rights-style campaign has been fought on the ground in Ireland,” said Katherine Zappone, an Irish senator.

“If we win, and I believe we will, this will be a huge moment for Ireland and for countries around the world that will see change of this kind come from a country that has been completely embedded in the Roman Catholic Church,” said Zappone, the first openly lesbian member of the Oireachtas, Ireland’s lawmaking body. She married in Canada.

Opposition is led by Catholic bishops and “No” campaign groups. “A civil partnership ceremony is identical to a civil marriage ceremony down to the saying of ‘I do,’ ” the group Mothers and Fathers Matter says.