Gays and pro-life lobby should unite

Here’s a (not so) wacky idea. Gays, forget about gay marriage and settle with ‘narriage’.

This will keep the conservatives happy, knowing their historical and religious definition of the union will not be subverted. Gays will be content to marry under state law and be given the same rights as other people in loving, long term and committed relationships.

However, here is the twist. The pro-life lobby will embrace these newly recognised families as people who can work in tandem with their goals to keep Ireland abortion-free.

Young accidental mothers and fathers who have been failed by the state, our society, culture, media and church to encourage responsible sexual and committed relationships will no longer feel the pressure to use abortion as a remedy for their circumstances. Open adoption will be placed on the table as a “real choice” and kids will be raised by loving gay couples. Abortions will diminish and children will have the right to life and to know and bond with their genetic parents free from rejection issues. The pro-life and the LGBT lobby are far more similar, and have closer aims than they could ever have imagined.

PJ O’Dwyer

Sandyford Village

Coolkill Road

Dublin 18