Watch: Homophobe makes awkward slip during equal marriage debate
An anti-gay marriage campaigner has accidentally come out against marriage between men and women.
The man made the awkward slip during a debate on TV3 Ireland, ahead of May’s referendum on civil same-sex marriage.
While speaking to the panel – headed by journalist Vincent Browne – audience member Michael O’Leary said: “It’s a corrupt way for politicians to come out and say they are in favour of gay marriages.
“We have family values, and no politician or party should be coming out and calling for a yes vote.
“I say it’s shame on you, we want family values, and we don’t want to see men and women getting married.”
The slip reduced the entire audience and most of the panel to laughter.
After the laughter refused to die down, he jumped back to his feet and clarified: “We don’t want to see two men getting married, we don’t want to see two women getting married.”
He then attacked the “corrupt” politicians – being booed by other members of the crowd.
The panel debate, in Cork, comes a few months before the Republic of Ireland will vote on same-sex marriage. Early polls suggest a large amount of support for the measure.
The wording of the referendum measure was agreed last month.
The exact wording will be: “Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex”.
