The Civil Partnership Train Charter
5 December 2009
The CIVIL PARTNERSHIP TRAIN Charter
.....Belfast to Dublin.....Saturday 5th December 2009 dep. 12.35hrs.
The Civil Partnership Train is a civil rights initiative inspired by the Belfast to Dublin 'Contraceptive train' of 1971 and the 'Peace train' of 1989. It is supported by persons North and South, gay, lesbian and heterosexual, Protestant, Catholic, other religions and no religion, who are committed to challenging discrimination and prejudice against gay and lesbian persons. Their objectives are:
Implement fully the Good Friday Agreement in the Republic of Ireland. They call on the Irish Government to live up to its commitment to provide "at least an equivalent level of protection of human rights as will pertain in Northern Ireland".
Upgrade the Civil Partnership Bill. It should be amended to provide parenting rights for gay and lesbian couples equal with those in Northern Ireland.
Include in the Bill recognition of widowed same-sex partners who obtained their Civil Partnership overseas or in Northern Ireland since 2005. Unless the Government provides retrospective recognition for these Civil Partnerships where one partner has since died, some widowed Civil Partners could be declared ineligible for a pension.
STOP the proposed amendment to the Bill for an anti-gay opt-out on the grounds of 'Christian Conscience'. The proposed opt-out was not conceded in Northern Ireland.
You can support the objectives above by travelling on the Civil Partnership Train departing from Belfast on Saturday 5th December 2009 at 12.35hrs. Assembly is in Belfast central station at 11.45hrs. Book your own tickets individually in advance on line, and let the organisers know that you have done so. CP train supporters will first occupy the unreserved seating in the carriage behind the dining car. You can join the train at Dundalk or Drogheda or be at Dublin Connolly station at 14.35hrs to greet their arrival.
For more information or to communicate your support, e-mail the Civil Partnership Train at civilpartnershiptrain@gmail.com or see further announcements on www.changingattitudeireland.org.
The Civil Partnership Train Contact persons:
Dr Richard O'Leary, Revd. Chris Hudson and Canon Charles Kenny
C/O Changing Attitude Ireland, 1st Floor, Old War Memorial Building, 9-13 Waring St., Belfast BT1 2DX
Mob. +44(0)7816462107