Ireland Set for Referendum on Gay Garriage

Ireland on May 22,2015 will be asked whether or not to add an article to the Irish constitution saying: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.”

More than 3.2m people are being asked whether they want to amend the country's constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. 

The referendum is being held 22 years after Ireland decriminalised homosexuality.

Volunteers for and against gay marriage have been canvassing door to door in recent weeks and billboards have appeared appealing for votes, as a colourful “Yes” bus makes its way around the country. All the main political parties, including conservatives, are supporting the change — a shift in a country where homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993 and abortion is still illegal.

But a “Yes” victory is by no means certain and there is concern among proponents about whether “Yes” supporters will come out and cast their ballots. “We’ll ensure that people will be treated equally, no matter who they love,” PM Enda Kenny has said. The move is opposed by the Catholic Church, whose influence has waned in Ireland amid growing secularisation and after a wave of child sex abuse scandals that badly discredited the hierarchy.

 Referendums on same-sex marriage were previously rejected in Croatia and Slovenia. Here is a look at referendums on gay marriage around the world.

North America

• CANADA: A law authorising same-sex marriage and adoptions entered into force in July 2005.
• MEXICO: The country's federal capital has allowed same-sex marriage since 2009.

South America

• ARGENTINA: In July 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage. Homosexual couples can also adopt.
• BRAZIL: It has de facto authorised same-sex marriage since May 14, 2013, after the National Council of Justice ordered clerks to register all marriages pending the adoption of a law by parliament.

Europe

• THE NETHERLANDS: In April 2001, The Netherlands became the first country to allow gays and lesbians to marry in a civil ceremony and adopt children.
• BELGIUM: Same-sex marriage was made legal in June 2003, but some restrictions apply. Homosexual couples were allowed to adopt children in 2006.
• SPAIN: The country's socialist government made same-sex marriage legal in July 2005. Homosexual couples were also allowed to adopt, regardless of their marital status.
• SWEDEN: Same-sex couples were allowed to marry in Lutheran Church ceremonies in May 2009. Adoptions for all have been legal since 2003.