The impending marriage equality referendum is undoubtedly going to have massive consequences for LGBT people, regardless of the outcome. All around campus there are many LGBT students hoping and praying that it will pass. Se\u00e1n Lynch, a committee member of Out in UL and advocate of LGBT rights told me his story as an openly gay student here in UL.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time I ever even acknowledged it [my sexuality] to anyone would\u2019ve been coming to Out In UL meetings.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I guess the first family member would\u2019ve been my mother, about November-December of my first semester in college. Which obviously was a big deal for me. But, you know, she was really accepting of it and then I gradually told more people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coming to the end of his second year in college, I asked Se\u00e1n how people have reacted when they realised he was gay.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t had any problems with my course mates or lecturers. You know, I think UL is a really good place and has a really positive atmosphere for young LGBT people. The hostility isn\u2019t really there, which is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, campaigning for an issue that is so close to your heart can be difficult at times, as Se\u00e1n explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be difficult to try and convince people, you know? If it\u2019s just marriage equality or if it\u2019s a general queer issue, it can be difficult to brush it off sometimes when it\u2019s something to do with your life. You do end up kind of taking it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having started canvassing around campus this week, it wasn\u2019t the opposition to marriage equality that phased Se\u00e1n; rather the complacency of the students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I thought I would have a problem with would be people saying \u201cI\u2019m voting no\u201d. But really what the problem was, was people saying \u201cNo I\u2019m not going to vote; it\u2019s going to pass\u201d. And then you get really annoyed at that because if you look at the polls, they\u2019re dropping.\u201d<\/p>\n
When a referendum as significant as this one comes along, that directly affects a person\u2019s own life, it\u2019s hard not to be as passionate as Se\u00e1n and his fellow Out in UL members are.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn general, it is a huge step forward for LGBT rights; for the rights of a minority that have been pushed down and down, time and time again. And to have seen so many people my age really get out and really push for it, I\u2019ve been surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who are queer or straight, whatever you know, they\u2019re really pushing for it and that\u2019s meant a lot to me to actually see that.\u201d<\/p>\n