The Council of Europe says that the Irish government must bring in legislation to decriminalise homosexuality with the next six months.
However, the gay community and equality activists are enraged by the Taoiseach's comments that homosexual law reform is low on his list of priorities. This anger is evident in the headline of the November issue of the 'Gay Community News' which reads
Reckless, Irresponsible, Dishonest
As a regular contributor to the publication, Kieran Rose says that it is difficult to explain to a heterosexual how it feels to be criminalised in society.
I am a criminal in this society.
Kieran Rose has been part of the long struggle to have laws on homosexuality in Ireland changed. He attended the recent protest outside Dáil Éireann marking four years since the European Court ruling. He has written articles in the Gay Community News outlining his views and believes that the present laws encourage a climate of discrimination, fear, hatred, and violence.
Kieran Rose is also co-chairperson of GLEN (Gay and Lesbian Equality Network), an organisation set up to campaign for equality and to seek the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the introduction of new legislation to prevent discrimination. GLEN also acts as a pressure group to lobby politicians for a commitment to change.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 November 1992. The reporter is Alasdair Jackson.
