‘Our children would love us to be married’
“I am going to be a parent for the rest of my life. Why should my situation be different to any other step-parent,” said Ms Howard.
We Are Family posters produced by Marriage Equality depict real Irish lesbian and gay couples, some with their children, in a bid to garner public support to have such families protected by Irish law.
Ms Howard, an advertising executive, and Gráinne Courtney, a medical doctor, live in Dublin with their two teenage children, Clare, 19, and Daire, 16.
“The reason for the campaign is to show there are thousands of families like mine out there and they are being completely ignored by the civil partnership bill,” she said.
“Our children would love us to be married. Straight people can choose to get married and become a step-parent. I don’t have that choice. Why not make things equal? It’s as simple as changing the marriage laws.” she said.
“How would allowing Gráinne and I to marry do anything other than create a more stable structure for our family and that’s better for society,” she asked.
“Families like mine are legally vulnerable in matters such as inheritance, access and maintenance. In the eyes of the law, I am a stranger to my children,” said Ms Howard who is glad the children’s father has been hugely supportive and very much in their lives.
“I know that our children really feel set apart from other families and they don’t understand why that should be.
“As far as they are concerned, our family situation is the most natural thing in the world. It is what they are used to and what they know.” she said.
“I love my children. I have known them since they were small. I have watched them grow up. I am going to continue to be a parent for the rest of my life.”
Ms Howard’s family is one of five featured on the posters being carried by Dublin Bus. Copies have also been sent to libraries, family resource centres and community information centres nationally.
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