Fine Gael looking forward to Dublin Pride

Chairman of Fine Gael’s LGBT Group, Jerry Buttimer TD, has today (Friday) said the Group is looking forward to a bumper turnout for this year’s Dublin Pride Parade, which takes place tomorrow. The Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald TD, will join other TDs and Senators, Party members, and Young Fine Gael who are all coming out in support of the LGBT community.

Speaking ahead of the parade, Deputy Buttimer said: ‘Pride is a public celebration of being gay and it’s about an ongoing journey towards equality. It’s a remembrance of those who strove for equality and a reminder that there is further progress to be made. Pride is a celebration of diversity for all.

“I am delighted to have such strong support from across the Fine Gael family this year. I am particularly pleased that Minister Fitzgerald will be joining us for Dublin Pride, which in many ways is more important this year than ever. This is potentially the last parade before the marriage equality referendum, so sending a strong message in support of equality is essential’.

“I would like to thank my colleagues in Fine Gael for their incredible support for equality and LGBT issues. Since we formed the Fine Gael LGBT Group three years ago, I have been struck by how members of the Party have rallied around, supporting the Group and the campaign for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of those who have been involved in the campaign for equal rights for many years. They laid the groundwork, they faced up to difficult opposition and the sometimes tricky court of public opinion. I hope we can continue to encourage a new generation to get involved and become empowered. In the case of my own Party, Young Fine Gael is playing a huge role in this regard. We must all continue the quest for full equality.”

Deputy Chairperson of the Fine Gael LGBT Group, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD, said: ‘I am delighted to be involved in this year’s Dublin Pride and since getting involved I have found my work with Fine Gael’s LGBT Group to be extremely fulfilling. As a married mother of two, I want gay people to have the same rights and the same opportunity for happiness as me and my family. Equality cannot be conditional on gender or sexuality.’

“Irish society has come a long way in recent years, and it’s now clear that the vast majority of the public support equal rights for LGBT people. I am committed to the campaign to spread the message that equality is for everyone and I look forward to making the case for marriage equality in the run up to the referendum.”