Labour to host marriage equality celebration event in Cork's Metropole next week

The Labour Party in Cork is hosting an evening of discussion celebrating 10 years of marriage equality and what the future holds with regards to LGBT+ rights in the Metropole Hotel on July 24 at 7pm.

The panel will consist of Cork Labour Party senator Laura Harmon, Labour Party Cork city councillor John Maher, Saoirse Mackin from Trans+ Pride Cork, Kate Moynihan of Linq Ireland, and lifelong campaigner Arthur Leahy of Cork Quay Co-op.

Ms Harmon said: 

“It is hosted by the Labour Party. We had one in Dublin back in May. We actually had to move venue at the time because the far right were threatening the event. Which really hit home why these events are needed.

“The Labour Party were in government when marriage equality was introduced. We put it into the programme for government.

“We wanted to mark that and mark Labour’s involvement in the campaign, but also celebrate the community here in Cork as well.”

“I was president of the Union of Students in Ireland 10 years ago. So I led the student campaign for marriage equality, where we registered tens of thousands of voters across the country, in terms of mobilising the youth vote.

“It is open to everyone.

“I am the only openly gay woman in the Oireachtas out of all of the TDs and senators. This is very important to me that we continue fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.

“We thought this event is very fitting in the lead up to Cork Pride. It is an event that is open to everyone, regardless of political party.

“We will be looking to the future as well, in terms of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in relation to trans healthcare, in relation to rights for families, in terms of parental rights.

“We will be looking at things around hate speech and how we can combat the far right as well.”

Anyone interested in attending the event can register their interest through the following link: secure.labour.ie/page/173897/data/1