Angela & Caroline
Hello, this is a picture of me, my wonderful wife, Caroline,and our amazing 6 month old daughter. I was asked to share our story and here it is.
I was lucky to grow up in a stereotypically large Irish family full of love. My parents were one of those couples who, despite being married for almost five decades, still looked at each other like newly weds. I remember, at the age of 12 or 13, when I was first accepting that I was gay, I feared I would never have that. In the late 90s love, commitment, marriage and family weren’t seen as options for gay people so I didn’t think they were options for me.
I’m so glad I was wrong.
I met Caroline in my early twenties and my life has been fuller ever since. I have no doubt that the love I have for her is as strong and as special as that which my parents had for each other. With her love, I realised that the other things I assumed weren’t available to us, (commitment, marriage, family) actually were. We moved in with each other a year later, then moved to Scotland and after another four more amazing years, we said “I do” in front of our family and loved ones. We had so much love to give, we decided to have a child and six months ago, welcomed our beautiful, intelligent, stubborn and fun loving little girl into the world. She is loved and cared for as much as any child could be and is such a happy little lady as a result.
Thankfully Scotland now not only has full marriage equality but also recognises same sex parents. It’s a great feeling knowing the country we live in recognises us as a loving couple and family but it would be even better if our home country did the same.
Hopefully lgbt young people growing up in Ireland today know that love, commitment and family are all options for them. The only thing that they are currently excluded from is marriage and the only thing that a yes vote in the 22nd may will change is same sex couples access to civil marriage. Why would you deny anyone that beautiful experience?
We look forward to being able to proudly tell our daughter that we’re from a country that celebrates all families equally.
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