Senator David Norris was the special guest at the Galway City Museum on Monday where he launched the new Galway lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT ) group Amach!
The group aims to celebrate the diversity within the LGBT community by encouraging active participation and positive campaigning. It is hoped that this will lead to a strong support structure for all members.
Mr Norris said while he was happy with some of the provisions he stated that he also had concerns regarding the Civil Partnership Bill, and the legislative failure to deal adequately with the rights of children in same-sex unions. “Gay people can still only adopt singly and if that person dies, the child is left in a limbo situation.” Mr Norris said that the Labour Party and the Green Party had been both very supportive in pushing for change in recent years and he acknowledged that huge strides have been made.
While Mr Norris said he would be voting against the Civil Partnership Bill in the Seanad he said it was a relief that a new generation of gay people in Ireland were growing up without the oppression that so many encountered previously. He said there was high levels of suicide and drug addiction among gay people but now a new generation was growing up without having to bear the brunt of this oppression.
Speaking briefly about speculation regarding the forthcoming presidential election and a potential electoral duel with Galway West TD Michael D Higgins, Senator Norris smiled, adding “either way, the Irish people will be the winners”.
