IMPACT will campaign for a ‘yes’ vote in any future referendum on gay marriage after delegates at the union’s recent conference unanimously endorsed the stance. Sinead Costello of the union’s Sligo branch said it was unreasonable to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

“The state is effectively saying it does not value, respect or acknowledge the status of same-sex couples in the same way as heterosexual couples. Opinion polls tell us that the vast majority of the public believe in marriage equality for gay people. This is an issue for IMPACT members whether gay or straight,” she said.

Meanwhile, ICTU has linked up with gay rights organisation BeLonG to launch the Stand Up At Work campaign to combat workplace homophobia. The two organisations have produced a video in which young gay, lesbian and bisexual people explain the discrimination they face at work.

Read the IMPACT blog on why homophobia is a workplace and trade union issue.