10 years since marriage equality: Labour leads call for next steps

10 years since marriage equality: Labour leads call for next steps - The Labour Party

• Support for LGBTQI+ youth
• Close legal gaps for all families

Labour Senator Laura Harmon today will host a gathering in Leinster House to mark the tenth anniversary of Ireland’s historic Marriage Equality Referendum and ask – what’s next? The event, will be joined by dozens of campaigners who played pivotal roles in the 2015 campaigns for marriage equality and gender recognition, served as both a celebration and a call to action. Senator Harmon emphasised the ongoing need for legislative and societal progress to ensure full equality for LGBTQI+ families and the transgender community.

Senator Harmon said:

“Ten years ago, Ireland made history by voting for marriage equality, a testament to the power of collective action and the courage of countless individuals. Labour has always been proud to stand with the LGBTQI+ community in that fight—whether it was for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, for legal protections from employment discrimination, for the right to marry, for gender recognition laws, for access to PrEP and other prophylactics, and more.

“However, this anniversary is not just a moment to look back but a reminder of the work that remains. Many LGBTQI+ families still face legal uncertainties, and the transgender community continues to encounter significant challenges. We must address these issues with urgency and determination.

“The event will feature personal stories from campaigners who were instrumental in the 2015 movements, providing powerful reminders of the human impact of legislative change.

“We must never stop campaigning for a better future and marriage equality showed us what is possible when we work together to fight for it. We must work together to address existing inequalities and ensure that the progress of the past decade is not only preserved but built upon for future generations.”

Labour’s MEP for Dublin Aodhán Ó Riordáin said:

“Recent events abroad, such as Hungary’s ban on Pride Parades, highlight how fragile progress can be. Rights can be rolled back, and we must remain vigilant in protecting the freedoms we have fought so hard to achieve.

“Hope must prevail over fear. We cannot allow an extreme minority to dictate the narrative. Marriage equality showed us what is possible when we unite for a common cause. We must continue to campaign for a future where everyone, regardless of their identity, is treated with dignity and respect.”