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| Ireland Appears Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage | |
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| DUBLIN — Vote counting began here Saturday morning as Ireland appeared poised to become the world’s first nation to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote. | DUBLIN — Vote counting began here Saturday morning as Ireland appeared poised to become the world’s first nation to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote. |
| Not long after counting began at Dublin Castle, a government complex that was once the epicenter of British rule, the first results began to trickle out. An announcement of the outcome is expected to be made this afternoon. | Not long after counting began at Dublin Castle, a government complex that was once the epicenter of British rule, the first results began to trickle out. An announcement of the outcome is expected to be made this afternoon. |
| Opinion polls and high turnout in urban areas favored a yes vote on the referendum, which would change Ireland’s Constitution so that marriages between two people would be legal “without distinction as to their sex.” | Opinion polls and high turnout in urban areas favored a yes vote on the referendum, which would change Ireland’s Constitution so that marriages between two people would be legal “without distinction as to their sex.” |
| Less than an hour after the first voting boxes were opened throughout the country, senior politicians were already declaring a victory for the yes vote, attributing it to the power of social media in mobilizing a youth vote. But recent surprise results of the British general election across the Irish Sea emphasized the limits of polls, which failed to predict Prime Minister David Cameron’s resounding victory there. | Less than an hour after the first voting boxes were opened throughout the country, senior politicians were already declaring a victory for the yes vote, attributing it to the power of social media in mobilizing a youth vote. But recent surprise results of the British general election across the Irish Sea emphasized the limits of polls, which failed to predict Prime Minister David Cameron’s resounding victory there. |
| Still, that the vote even came to pass in one of the world’s most Roman Catholic countries, barely two decades after Ireland decriminalized homosexuality, accentuated the cultural change afoot and the church’s declining influence after a series of scandals. But the vote is also the latest chapter in a sharpening global cultural clash. While marriage equality is surging in the West, gay rights are under renewed attack in Russia, in parts of Africa, and from Islamic extremists, most notably the Islamic State. | Still, that the vote even came to pass in one of the world’s most Roman Catholic countries, barely two decades after Ireland decriminalized homosexuality, accentuated the cultural change afoot and the church’s declining influence after a series of scandals. But the vote is also the latest chapter in a sharpening global cultural clash. While marriage equality is surging in the West, gay rights are under renewed attack in Russia, in parts of Africa, and from Islamic extremists, most notably the Islamic State. |
| In Ireland, there was support for marriage across the political spectrum, including Ireland’s prime minister, Enda Kenny, of the center-right Fine Gael party, and his Labour coalition partner, which had pushed for the referendum. Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, also expressed support. | In Ireland, there was support for marriage across the political spectrum, including Ireland’s prime minister, Enda Kenny, of the center-right Fine Gael party, and his Labour coalition partner, which had pushed for the referendum. Sinn Fein, the largest opposition party, also expressed support. |
| Gay rights activists around the world said a victory would be an important milestone. | Gay rights activists around the world said a victory would be an important milestone. |
| “I think this is a moment that rebrands Ireland to a lot of folks around the world as a country not stuck in tradition but that has an inclusive tradition,” said Ty Cobb, the international director of the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based advocacy group. | “I think this is a moment that rebrands Ireland to a lot of folks around the world as a country not stuck in tradition but that has an inclusive tradition,” said Ty Cobb, the international director of the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based advocacy group. |
| Late in the campaign, four Catholic bishops urged parishioners to vote against the measure. But opponents were not optimistic. As the first votes were being counted, Ben Conroy, a spokesman for the Iona Institute, a Catholic conservative advocacy group, said he was delighted that so many people had come out to vote in the cities but wished polling had been as brisk in rural areas. | Late in the campaign, four Catholic bishops urged parishioners to vote against the measure. But opponents were not optimistic. As the first votes were being counted, Ben Conroy, a spokesman for the Iona Institute, a Catholic conservative advocacy group, said he was delighted that so many people had come out to vote in the cities but wished polling had been as brisk in rural areas. |
| “At this stage it probably looks like a yes vote but who knows,” he said. “We are certainly not ready to concede.” | “At this stage it probably looks like a yes vote but who knows,” he said. “We are certainly not ready to concede.” |
| However, even in rural areas early tallies were showing support for a yes vote. | However, even in rural areas early tallies were showing support for a yes vote. |
| As ballot boxes were opened one by one, and paper yes and no votes stacked up in front of counters at long tables in a cavernous hall, optimism among referendum supporters grew. | As ballot boxes were opened one by one, and paper yes and no votes stacked up in front of counters at long tables in a cavernous hall, optimism among referendum supporters grew. |
| Campaigning on both sides of the debate has been underway for months, with posters, billboards and commercials. One opposition commercial said, “You should be able to have reservations about gay marriage without being called a homophobe,” while a commercial supporting same-sex marriage featured young people encouraging their parents to vote. | Campaigning on both sides of the debate has been underway for months, with posters, billboards and commercials. One opposition commercial said, “You should be able to have reservations about gay marriage without being called a homophobe,” while a commercial supporting same-sex marriage featured young people encouraging their parents to vote. |
| Thousands are believed to have returned to Ireland to take part in the vote. The atmosphere on Friday night in the PantiBar, one of Dublin’s best-known gay venues, improved as the night went on and it became clear that the turnout would be high. | Thousands are believed to have returned to Ireland to take part in the vote. The atmosphere on Friday night in the PantiBar, one of Dublin’s best-known gay venues, improved as the night went on and it became clear that the turnout would be high. |
| “Some people do not like change and are very resistant to it,” said Jeanne McDonagh as she stood outside the bar. In February, Ms. McDonagh, who is heterosexual, left her job of 17 years as a spokeswoman for an Irish lawyers’ association so that she could assist the campaign to approve the marriage referendum. | “Some people do not like change and are very resistant to it,” said Jeanne McDonagh as she stood outside the bar. In February, Ms. McDonagh, who is heterosexual, left her job of 17 years as a spokeswoman for an Irish lawyers’ association so that she could assist the campaign to approve the marriage referendum. |
| “This has been a very emotional time for me, but I don’t regret quitting my job,” she said. “I recognized this as a once-in-a-lifetime event and I wanted to play my part. I am tired, but I expect to be back here tomorrow night for one hell of a party.” | “This has been a very emotional time for me, but I don’t regret quitting my job,” she said. “I recognized this as a once-in-a-lifetime event and I wanted to play my part. I am tired, but I expect to be back here tomorrow night for one hell of a party.” |
| The debate continued on social media up until the end. One opponent wrote on Twitter that he had voted “for a child’s right to a mother and father.” A supporter dismissed such sentiments, writing that “I didn’t realize people from the 1600s could use Twitter.” | The debate continued on social media up until the end. One opponent wrote on Twitter that he had voted “for a child’s right to a mother and father.” A supporter dismissed such sentiments, writing that “I didn’t realize people from the 1600s could use Twitter.” |