Irish stars team for video on marriage equality referendum

A host of Irish TV, movie and music talent has joined forces with BeLonG To, the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people, to produce an online video advertisement calling for a ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on marriage equality.

Featuring Red Rock's Elva Trill, Love/Hate's Brian Gleeson, Aaron Heffernan and Kelly Campbell, Steve Wall from Moone Boy, and star of My Left Foot, The Snapper and Philomena Ruth McCabe, The ad focuses on the key messages of the BeLonG To YES campaign, which involves leading youth and children’s organisations calling on parents and young people to support a ‘yes’ vote in the forthcoming referendum.  

The ad id also soundtracked with ‘All I Want’ by Kodaline, one of the most successful Irish bands of recent years.

Commenting today, Michael Barron of BeLonG To, said: “This ad demonstrates how each of us can encourage others to vote ‘yes’ on 22^nd May and, by doing so, how we can make Ireland a better place to live in for future generations.  The ad is set in a rural village, and features young people, parents, grandparents and friends encouraging and supporting each other to vote ‘yes’.

“We hope the ad will demonstrate to older generations just how strongly young people feel about marriage equality.  BeLonG To works with thousands of young people around the country, and we know they view this as one the biggest human rights and social justice issue of their generation. 

“At the same time, I think the ad will resonate with older generations too.  In the past, it was a common experience for LGBT people to feel they were better off leaving home and moving to other parts of the country to live.  This ad is very much rooted in a local community, and I hope it will encourage people who have moved away from home to reconnect with their families and loved ones and encourage them to go out and vote ‘yes’.”