Last week, Ireland became the first nation to legalize marriage equality through popular vote. This is an amazing victory for the people of Ireland, but what does it mean for us here in the United States? Here's a list of five reasons the vote has, or could, affect the American LGBTQ community. 

 

While legally, other countries’ constitutions hold no bearing on our own (and we are in no way obligated to agree morally with other nations), this decision can certainly serve as an example in Supreme Court arguments for the United States’ own marriage equality. Ireland can show us that changing the Constitution isn’t really that difficult or scary. 

 

2. It was done by popular vote

In the unfortunate (and unlikely) event that the Supreme Court decides against marriage equality in June, we can at least be rest assured that they are not our sole means of legalization. Like Ireland did, our individual states too can legalize through popular vote, as many states have already done. This legalization would certainly take longer when done by vote by state, but the fact that Ireland’s “yes” majority was so overwhelming gives hope if we should need it. 

 

3. Marriage “regardless of sex” includes space for gender nonconforming or intersex people

According to the Irish Times, the vote will amend the Irish Constitution to include a "new clause [which] provides that two people may marry each other regardless of their sex." This wording is important because unlike “same-sex marriage,” it allows room for people who are gender nonconforming or intersex and makes way for more general queerness. Which, obviously, we love.

 

4. Redefines the relationship between civil rights and the church 

Ireland is an overwhelmingly Catholic country. Therefore, the passing of a marriage equality referendum really comments on the separation of church and state and the fact that while the church may be slow on the uptake, its followers are not. While many of the Irish identify as Catholic and go to mass, they are not following the religion in as strict a way as their parents and grandparents did. Hopefully this will set a precedent for our “Christian nation” and remove the religious argument from the equation. 

 

5. Establishes wider acceptance and allyship 

Wherever they happen, seeing victories for marriage equality are encouraging—whether they directly affect the United States or not. We have all started to realize that equality might be inevitable, and that at this point it is kind of a waiting game. The expansion of rights in other countries extends a hand of allyship to ours and gives our whole global community something to celebrate. Thanks, Ireland!