Same-sex marriage activists honoured

Two long-time LGBT campaigners who played a prominent role campaigning for same sex marriage have been given a Cork Persons of the Month award.

Kieran Rose and Arthur Leahy played a significant role locally and nationally by drumming up support for the successful vote in this year’s Marriage Equality Referendum.

Mr Rose, a civil rights activist, also played a pivotal role in securing the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland in 1993.

He has been a champion of human rights and equality over the years, particularly for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Mr Rose is the current chairman of GLEN, the gay and lesbian equality network, and has worked closely with successive governments on the development of legislation in the areas of equality for lesbian and gay people.

He works as a senior planner with the Office of International Relations and Research and with the Economic Development Unit of Dublin City Council and is a former member of the board of the Equality Authority.

Mr Leahy is director of Southern Gay Men’s Health Project based in Cork and is also a founder of Cork Gay Community Development Project and has had long term involvement in Cork’s Quay Co-Op initiative.

“Kieran Rose and Arthur Leahy, since their student days in UCC, have been making Ireland a place where all LGB people can feel safe and confident about being open regarding their sexual orientation at home, in work and within the wider community,” awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan said.

“Arthur Leahy is well known as a director of Southern Gay Men’s Health Project. He has long term involvement in Cork’s Quay Co-operative initiative and is the founder of Cork Gay Community Development project,” he added.

The two men were nominated for the award by Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer.