Thousands will take to the streets of Dublin this Sunday, August 14, to march for marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Ireland.
The protestors, led by the LGBT Noise organization, claim that even though civil partnerships between same-sex couples were legally recognized from January 1 of this year, the legislation is still missing vital components that differentiate it from marriage.
Max Krzyzanowski, spokesman for the group, said the "denial" of civil marriage equality in Ireland was a human rights issue.
"The Civil Partnership Act 2011 has only served to cement inequality in Irish society by explicitly excluding LGBT people from the institution of marriage," he said.
"By granting legislation that only offers a portion of the rights and responsibilities of marriage, LGBT couples are forced to participate in their own discrimination out of urgent necessity to have their legal and financial arrangements recognized.
"This is nothing short of state-endorsed discrimination in having a separate set of laws for one section of society."
The LGBT group said the Irish Government should listen to the "repeated" calls from people highlighting the perceived inequalities and "demonstrate its commitment to equality" by introducing same-sex marriages as opposed to civil partnerships.
Protestors will march from Dublin City Hall to the department of justice building, where a mass rally will be held.
Singer Brian Kennedy, a gay rights supporter, said he would be attending the event.
"I believe in human rights and civil marriage is a human right that the LGBT community should no longer be denied. This injustice has gone on too long," he said.
