Labour LGBTQ+ Welcomes Long-Overdue Justice for Those Criminalised for Who They Loved
Labour LGBTQ+ Welcomes Long-Overdue Justice for Those Criminalised for Who They Loved - The Labour Party
Labour LGBTQ+ welcomes confirmation given in the Dáil Éireann this week that legislation will be brought forward in March of this year to allow for the setting aside of historic criminal convictions imposed on men for consensual same-sex relationships prior to decriminalisation.
The commitment was secured following engagement by Labour TD Ged Nash with the Minister for Justice and represents a major step towards restoring dignity to those who were unjustly criminalised by the State in the decades prior to decriminalisation.
This legislation addresses a deep injustice faced by people whose lives were damaged simply because of who they were, who they loved, and the era in which they lived. These convictions should never have existed, and it is right that the State now moves to put this wrong behind us.
Ged Nash TD has been at the heart of this work for almost a decade. His legislation in 2017 set this process in motion, leading first to the historic State apology delivered in 2018.
Labour LGBTQ+ would also highlight the work of Executive Committee member, International Officer and Rainbow Rose representative Karl Hayden, whose tireless advocacy, insight and persistence helped keep this issue firmly on the political agenda. Alongside fellow activists, Karl’s years of advocacy has been central to delivering restorative justice for a generation wronged by the law.
We also acknowledge the contribution of campaigners including Kieran Rose and Brian Sheehan, and the officials and working group members who engaged constructively to bring this process to completion.
The move for restorative justice for those wronged by the state, coming at a time of international backsliding of rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, is of both symbolic and practical matters. It is about more than legislation. It is about recognition, fairness and respect. Labour is proud to have led this change, and Labour LGBTQ+ will continue to stand with our community to ensure equality is not just promised but delivered.