Group Responsible For Same-Sex Marriage Leaflet Defend Controversial Content

The group responsible for the controversial anti-gay leaflet that circulated in Dublin over the weekend opposing same-sex marriage have defended their stance and original messaging. On Saturday, just two days after Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that the same-sex marriage referendum will take place Friday, May 22nd, a representative from the Alliance for the Defence of the Family and Marriage (ADFAM) handed out a leaflet supporting the 'No' campaign to a Her.ie writer during a Divine Mercy Conference being held in the Dublin's RDS. The leaflet suggested that voting yes is "a confidence trick" and will do "homosexual sexual persons no favours". "They will still contract cancers earlier in life. The average life expectancy in same-sex relationships is 60 years. Statistically they are, more than average, subject to alcoholism, illegal drug abuse, depression, and suicide", the leaflet claimed.

I ripped up the leaflet I was handed (in the RDS). @HelenORahilly @ianmccourt Here is it in full: pic.twitter.com/LVJqksxKpF — Grace O' Reilly (@graceyosmiley) February 21, 2015

Speaking to the Irish Times, ADFAM's Seamas de Barra defended the literature and claimed that the leaflet was based on facts taken from a Danish study. De Barra, the secretary and treasurer of ADFAM, who also handed out the leaflets at the event, said that the material within the double-sided page was also upheld by previous research conducted by Dutch psychologist Dr. Gerard van den Aardweg. The leaflet, also states that "sexual abuse is disproportionately homosexual in nature”  and same-sex couples are “8 times more likely” to abuse their children. ADFAM's chairman is 65-year-old Richard Greene of the Christian Solidarity Party. The full text of the argument against same-sex marriage reads: 1) Only a man and a woman can produce children. Same-sex "marriage" is a confidence trick. It is likely that only 0.3% of the population will avail of it, if legislated for. It is very short-lived, and promiscuous. Frequently same-sex pairs don't even live together. Only 1/10 of the countries of the world allow it. 2) If you vote for same-sex "marriage," you are doing homosexual persons no favours. They will contract cancers earlier in life. The average life expectancy of those in same-sex relationships is 60 years. Statistically they are, more than average, subject to alcoholism, illegal drug abuse, depression, and suicide. 3) Only a minority will want to adopt children anyway, but children who are adopted other than by man + woman couples are subject to 8 times more harm, and are 50 times more likely to die of injuries inflicted on them. A child is best raised by his/her own mother and father. 4) Voting for same-sex "marriage" is like voting for the Islamist law known as "sharia law." It is giving in to a very small minority. In this case the very small minority will dictate what marriage means. Persecution of Christians surely will follow, and it will become a crime to teach and preach Christian morality. This has already happened elsewhere. 5) In the 2003 Vatican document Considerations Regarding Proposals we are reminded that it is gravely immoral to vote for same-sex "marriage." Issued by the Alliance for the Defence of the Family and Marriage (ADFAM)

Policy director at the Irish Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), Tiernan Brady, called the leaflet "disrespectful" and "an attack on the humanity of certain citizens of Ireland".

“Unfortunately there are those who will take us back to a time of intolerance. ADFAM don’t seem to care that the referendum is a vote about real people and real people’s rights. Lesbian and gay people will read that pamphlet, and the intent can be nothing other than to do as much damage to people. Their motivation is dark, dangerous and disgraceful. We have to remain positive.”

During his interview last Thursday on Prime Time, Kenny said that the referendum is essentially about tolerance, respect and sensitivity. The Taoiseach also expressed his hope that support for the referendum would continue, and added that a large number of the members of the Oireachtas are in favour of it.