A minority of 40% cannot be ignored or silenced on matters of conscience

Now that the same-sex marriage referendum is over and the ‘Yes’ side has won, we must not forget the 40% of people who voted No.

Our views, as a sizeable minority, must not be overlooked. In spite of all the major political parties that stood against us, we did very well.

We have been called all types of names and lambasted for standing up for our consciences. We have lost friends and made enemies, for doing what we perceived to be right, and still do.

My concern was mostly for children. I knew my parents and grandparents, and this will not be so easy for future generations.

I fear now that we ‘No’ voters will be the persecuted minority and that if we say anything that the ‘Yes’ people see as anti-gay we will be taken to court.

Is this the beginning of censorship by gay people on the heterosexual community, as they muzzle our words and trample on our free speech?

Am I to get hate mail in the post, branding me homophobic? Can the people who voted ‘Yes’ now go to church and call themselves Christians?

What’s the next step in the gay agenda?

Will the clergy, both Catholic and Protestant, be taken to court for refusing to marry gay couples in church?

Martin Ford

27 St Anne’s Terrace

Sligo