COLIN Farrell has made a personal plea for voters to support gay marriage in Ireland’s impending same-sex marriage referendum.
Inspired by his brother Eamon – who was forced to go to Canada to marry his long-term partner – the actor has been a vocal fighter for gay rights in Ireland for years.
As the nation prepares for a 2015 referendum on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, Farrell penned a letter to the Sunday World newspaper calling for Irish voters to balance the “scales of justice” and vote yes to same-sex marriage.
“The fact that my brother had to leave Ireland to have his dream of being married become real is insane. INSANE,” he explained.
“It’s time to right the scales of justice here. To sign up and register to vote next year so that each individual’s voice can be heard,” he added.
“How often do we get to make history in our lives? Not just personal history. Familial. Social. Communal. Global. The world will be watching. We will lead by example. Let’s lead toward light.”
In 2013 the Irish government announced its plans for a referendum on the issue, claiming it would be "actively supporting" the introduction of civil marriage for same-sex couples.
The move comes more than 20 years after homosexuality was decriminalised by the state.
Same-sex couples in the Republic of Ireland have been able to enter a civil partnership since January 2011, but not marriage.
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