Thank you for an amazing 2012!

18 Dec 2012

Looking back on 2012, we’re once again reminded how lucky we are to have such amazing supporters behind us.  With your continued support, we accomplished so much this year!

HOW DID WE DO? (IN NUMBERS):

12

the number of city, town, borough and county councils who have passed motions supporting marriage equality

150%

the increase in supporters contacting their TDs this year as part of our Out To Your TD campaign

400,000

how many views our Sinead’s Hand video reached at the beginning of December

170

the amount of media coverage featuring Marriage Equality spokespeople, couples and families.  This year this figure included interviews in national newspapers, online publications, regional media and national television.

MAJOR EVENTS:

January / February

Marriage Equality begin plans for the coming year.  We are busy briefing TDs and Senators on the issue, our Out To Your TD campaign re-starts after the Christmas break, and we make plans for the upcoming Constitutional Convention.  We work on developing increasingly effective messaging, and continue to mobilise supporters around the country.

March

Marriage Equality are invited to Áras an Uachtaráin for St Patrick’s Day celebrations and to meet President Michael D Higgins (left).

May

We take part in the annual Family Day celebrations organised by One Family.  We had a great turn out, and a wonderful day celebrating the diversity of Ireland’s families!

June

• launch of our “Help Us Fill in the Missing Pieces” Pride campaign.  Supporters turn out in record numbers to march in Pride parades around the country (right).
• our friends in Glória (Dublin’s LGBT choir) and Choral ConFusion (Cork’s LGBT choir) host "True Colours – an evening of song and celebration in aid of Marriage Equality" at the beautiful St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork.
• TDs Jerry Buttimer (FG – Cork South) and John Lyons (Labour – Dublin North West) joined our panel discussion “Why Talking To Your TD Matters”.  The deputies and the other panel members shared valuable insights into every stage of our campaign - from why NOW is such a crucial time for marriage equality, to what actually happens when you go and visit your TDs, to how the TDs themselves feel about people coming to visit them and what a real difference it can make!  Click below to watch!

July

• at a press event with Marriage Equality Chair Grainne Healy, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore (right) calls marriage equality “the civil rights issue of this generation”.  The Tánaiste became the first government minister to add his voice to the growing majority of Irish people in favour of marriage equality.
• Cork City Council becomes the first local authority in the Republic of Ireland to pass a motion in support of marriage equality.
• a new regional group, Marriage Equality Louth, is formed by supporters in the area.  Thanks to their campaigning and lobbying efforts, Louth County Council votes in favour of supporting marriage equality in October.

August

LGBT Noise’s March for Marriage also attracts record numbers of marchers – over 5000 of you.  You helped us prove that equality is something worth fighting for, and that there are so many people prepared to work hard to make sure it's a reality.

October

• Marriage Equality and PILA (Public Interest Law Alliance) host an information evening on 3 major legal rights issues, including marriage equality, to coincide with the International Bar Association’s conference in Dublin. Our Director, Moninne Griffith is invited to speak on panel about Marriage Equality at the International Bar Association’s conference attended by over 5000 lawyers.
• our friends in Galway Amach! host “Why Talking To Your TD Matters” as part of Social Inclusion Week.  The event features our Director Moninne Griffith, and TDs Seán Kyne (FG – Galway West) and Derek Nolan (Labour – Galway West).
• our Director Moninne Griffith is a featured guest speaker at Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Labour – Dublin North Central)’s event “Making Marriage Equality a Reality”.
• we take part in ILGA-Europe’s Annual Conference in Dublin, where the Tánaiste again confirms his support for marriage equality.  We were also delighted to meet activists and supporters from all over Europe!
• Just Love: A Gig For Marriage Equality is held at the end of the month (right), featuring some of Ireland’s top musicians.  An amazing night was had by all, and we were able to raise important funds for our campaign!

November

• we were delighted and honoured to receive the Cork Rebel Award for National Organisation of the Year!
• our own Dawn Quinn takes part in a panel discussion on lobbying and mobilisation at Pink Training in Cork, which also featured Deputy Jerry Buttimer TD (FG – Cork South) and Tanya Ní Mhuirthile from the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).
• Marriage Equality Board Member Justine Quinn speaks at a Civil Partnership and Cohabitation Evening in Carlow, organised by Carlow County Development Partnership in collaboration with Marriage Equality and LGBT Diversity.

December

the Constitutional Convention has its first meeting.  Marriage equality is one of 8 issues to be looked at in the coming year, and we have put together a list of ways that you can get involved and play your part.

5 WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ACTION THIS CHRISTMAS!

1.  Become a Marriage Equality partner by joining our Club 500 and committing to give 21 euro per month to fund the vision - an Ireland where same sex couples, our families and our children are valued and protected equally.

2.  Send our super-cute Christmas cards to friends and family!  You’ll be spreading good cheer AND supporting equality for same sex couples, our families and our children.

3.  Be in with a chance at winning a trip to Orlando, Florida by purchasing our Winter Warm-Up Raffle tickets!  Tickets are 5 euro each or 3 for 10 euro. You can buy tickets directly online or you can send us a cheque or postal order (made payable to Marriage Equality) and we will send your tickets out to you. The draw will take place at the Panti Show, Panti Bar, Capel Street on Saturday, 12 January 2013.

4.  Set yourself a New Year’s Resolution to get involved with our TD campaign and the Constitutional Convention.  Click here to sign up to the TD campaign, and click here to read more about how you can get involved with the Convention.

5.  Talk to your friends and family about the issue and our campaign.  You might like to share our videos, Sinead’s Hand and Rory’s Story to help raise awareness about why marriage equality matters.