On May 22, 2015, Ireland made history by becoming the first country in the world to hold a referendum on marriage equality and pass it by the popular vote of the people.

That we became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote is still incredible.

It showed Ireland in a positive light across the world, and the inclusivity and acceptance of ‘others’ of the Irish people was celebrated.

The referendum and the result was a powerful affirmation of how far we had come, and also a recognition that nothing can be taken for granted. The joyous scenes across Ireland, captured best by the unbridled emotion and joy in Dublin Castle, and on the streets in the immediate vicinity is something I still savour and marvel at to this day.

The referendum didn’t just happen, but as with many other examples of social change, was the culmination of a journey and a process that included actions being taken at a social, community and personal level as well as at a political level.

Since the 1970s and the 1980s, there was a continuous growth in community LGBTQ advocacy, including Gay Project and LINQ Ireland here in Cork, which prompted and demanded political change.

The LGBTQ community began as a social movement, an action-based community established in response to persecution by church, state and other entities.

The Irish Gay Rights Movement was founded in 1974, The National LGBT Federation organised Ireland’s........

© Evening Echo