“They Will Still Contract Cancers Earlier In Life” – The Anti-Gay Leaflet Circulating In Dublin Today Opposing Same-Sex Marriage

On Thursday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that the same-sex marriage referendum will take place Friday, May 22nd.  With the referendum confirmed, campaigns for both sides of the same-sex marriage argument are beginning to gain pace. Today, during a Divine Mercy event being held in the Dublin's RDS, a representative from the Alliance for the Defence of the Family and Marriage (ADFAM) handed out a leaflet supporting the 'No' campaign to this Her.ie writer. The leaflet suggested that voting yes will do "homosexual sexual persons no favours". "They will still contract cancers earlier in life. The average life expectancy in same-sex relationships is 60 years. Statistically they are, more than average, subject to alcoholism, illegal drug abuse, depression, and suicide".

"They will still contract cancers earlier in life". Handed this leaflet by some sick individual from #ADFAM #MarRef pic.twitter.com/jR1ekG2Mtq — Grace O' Reilly (@graceyosmiley) February 21, 2015

The leaflet in full:

I ripped up the leaflet I was handed (in the RDS). @HelenORahilly @ianmccourt Here is it in full: pic.twitter.com/LVJqksxKpF — Grace O' Reilly (@graceyosmiley) February 21, 2015

During his interview on Prime Time, Kenny said that the referendum is essentially about tolerance, respect and sensitivity - sadly none of which appear to be present in this disturbing leaflet. The Taoiseach also expressed his hope that support for the referendum would continue, and added that a large number of the members of the Oireachtas are in favour of it. There was no official ADFAM presence at the event, however details, including a mobile number and bank details, were listed at the bottom of the page. The post sparked a massive response from folk online:

"Voting for same sex marriage like voting for the Islamist law known as Sharia law" SO MUCH STUPID @graceyosmiley @HelenORahilly @ianmccourt — Katie Dawson (@katiedawson23) February 21, 2015

@antiroom @graceyosmiley Jesus, that's just vile & malicious. — Aoife Martin (@aoifemrtn) February 21, 2015

@HelenORahilly @faduda @graceyosmiley and if we call them homophobic we will be the baddies — una dunphy (@unadunphy) February 21, 2015

'(Gay people are) Subject to depression and suicide' Yeah because of people like you. #ADFAM (Via @graceyosmiley) pic.twitter.com/AvMdRTYR7T — Darren McMahon (@DarrenMcMahon54) February 21, 2015

@DarrenMcMahon54 @graceyosmiley I have no words for how angry this has made me — Holly Shortall (@hollywooddublin) February 21, 2015

@graceyosmiley rarely lost for words.. that's incredible bile — Cool Events (@cooleventsinfo) February 21, 2015