For decades, Amnesty International has been campaigning against the violence and discrimination so frequently endured by LGBTI around the world. This discrimination is often reflected in how states deny LGBTI people many basic rights other people take for granted. One key example is access to civil marriage. Amnesty International opposes discrimination in civil marriage laws on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and calls on states to recognise families of choice.
In 2007 the members of Amnesty International globally voted to oppose discrimination in civil marriage laws on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Our members here in Ireland voted in 2008 to campaign on this in Ireland.
Since then, Amnesty International has encouraged the Irish Government to ensure that people are not denied the right to civil marriage on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.