Two same-sex couples marry every day thanks to Irish referendum
At least two gay couples are getting married every day in Ireland since it was legalised last year.
Last year, Ireland became the first country in the world to vote for same-sex marriages in a national referendum.
The historic Marriage Act 2015 was passed in May and later enacted on November 16.
Between then and the end of the 2015, 91 gay couples tied the knot in a civil marriage ceremony
The latest official figures from Dublin’s Central Statistics Office also reveal that 47 of those were male couples and 44 were female.
The figure translates into an average rate of two same-sex weddings every day, according to The Belfast Telegraph.
However, the figure does not include same-sex couples who were already married in another country, as those unions were automatically recognised on the enactment of the law.
LGBT rights campaigners said the weddings were a “testament” to the love, dedication and commitment of those who fought for marriage equality so tirelessly.
“They are a tribute to the generosity of the Irish people in giving full equality to their lesbian or gay family members, friends and neighbours,” Kieran Rose – of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network – added.
Rose said he was looking forward to seeing “many, many more lesbian and gay couples being married in the coming months and years.”
Back in May, 62.1% percent voted for the measure, with 37.9% percent voting against.
Over a million people supported equality, with 1,201,607 voting Yes and just 734,300 voting No, despite fears that a stronger turnout among older religious voters, who are more likely to oppose would might sway the outcome.
Many Irish citizens travelled back to Ireland to vote, as it was not possible to cast a vote from abroad, with emotional scenes in airports and train stations as large crowds flocked in.
In October, Ireland’s government also put its revolutionary new Gender Recognition Act into effect – meaning transgender people can now gain legal recognition without seeing a doctor.
The bold new Gender Recognition Bill, which passed through Parliament in July without issue, includes sweeping changes to allow transgender people to self-declare their gender.
