2FM presenter Jenny Greene has called on people to help make gay marriage legal.
The Nicky Byrne Show co-presenter insisted that everyone – regardless of their sexuality – should be able to wed.
And the 32-year-old, who is in a relationship with another woman Kelly for two years, especially hopes that her dad will one day be able to walk her down the aisle.
“It was three years ago that I was a bridesmaid at my sister’s wedding. There are only two of us in the family and eighteen months between us,” she said.
Radio pals: Jenny and Nicky Byrne | BRIAN MCEVOY
“It was one of the most special days I can remember, for us all as a family. My dad’s face as he walked my older sister up the aisle will forever be etched in my memory.
“His father of the bride speech was both hilarious and moving. Standing between my sister and I listening to him relay funny stories and talk about Nikki’s early childhood right up to adulthood, I wondered if he would someday get the chance to do it again for me?
“For the majority of people your wedding day is something you can see at some stage in your future, if you believe in marriage that is. For the rest of us however it is something we can only dream of.
“The hardest part is knowing that if you are LGBT in Ireland, your ‘wedding’ will always be viewed as less of a marriage in the eyes of the law.”
And Jenny – in an article for LGBT Noise – insisted she and others like her shouldn’t have to settle for something that isn’t marriage.
RTE sensations: Nicky and Jenny’s show is top rated on 2FM | VIPIRELAND.COM
She said: “I’m no different to anybody else and I am certainly not trying to destroy the sanctity of marriage!
“I don’t want to be treated any differently to my sister or my best friend for that matter.
“Who I choose to spend the rest of my life with doesn’t affect anybody but me and all I wish is to be able to live my life, the same as everybody else, with the same rights.”
She added: “The way I see it, myself and my sister were both brought up in the same house by the same amazing parents.
“We went to the same school, had similar friends and in a lot of ways our lives are very similar. So why is it that my sister can get married and I cannot?”
Now Jenny has urged people to make sure they vote to legalise gay marriage in the upcoming referendum next year.
“While the Referendum may not effect you directly right now, who is to say you won’t be the parent of a LGBT child in years to come, who may one day wish to marry their partner,” she said.
“We all have an opportunity to make a massive change not just to the Constitution, but more importantly to people like myself and anyone else that is LGBT or has a LGBT friend, sister or brother who deserves to be treated equally.”
