Pahichan\/May 28 –\u00a0Ireland<\/a> has voted by a huge majority to legalise same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in the world to do so by popular vote in a move hailed as a social revolution and welcomed around the world.<\/p>\n Some 62% of the Irish Republic\u2019s electorate voted in favour of gay marriage. The result means that a republic once dominated by the Catholic church ignored the instructions of its cardinals and bishops. The huge Yes vote marks another milestone in Ireland\u2019s journey towards a more liberal, secular society.<\/p>\n Out of an electorate of more than 3 million, 1,201,607 backed gay marriage, while 734,300 voters said No. The result prompted a massive street party around the gay district of central Dublin close to the national count centre.<\/p>\n Directly addressing Ireland\u2019s gay community, taoiseach Enda Kenny said the result meant that \u201ca majority of people in this republic have stood up for them [those in the gay community]\u201d. He said: \u201cIn the privacy of the ballot box, the people made a public statement. With today\u2019s vote we have disclosed who we are. We are a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people who say yes to inclusion, yes to generosity, yes to love, yes to gay marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n Irish deputy prime minister and Labour leader Joan Burton added: \u201cThe people of Ireland have struck a massive blow against discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n And quoting the late American politician and LGBT rights<\/a> activist Harvey Milk, she said: \u201cHope will never be silent.\u201d All but one of the republic\u2019s 43 parliamentary constituencies voted Yes to same-sex marriage. And fears of an urban-rural, Yes\/No split were not realised either. Constituencies such as Donegal South West, which in the past voted against divorce and abortion reform, backed the Yes side. Theminister for equality, Aodh\u00e1n \u00d3 R\u00edord\u00e1in, said on Twitter: \u201cA landslide across Dublin. And I\u2019m so proud to be Irish today.\u201d<\/p>\n Health minister Leo Varadkar, who this year came out as the country\u2019s first openly gay minister, said the campaign had been \u201calmost like a social revolution\u201d.<\/p>\n The social transformation of the country was on display in the grounds of Dublin Castle, former seat of British rule in Ireland and the site of the national count for a referendum that was unthinkable just two decades ago \u2013 it was only in 1993 that homosexuality was decriminalised. The rainbow colours of the international gay movement lit up the 18th-century cobbled courtyard amid glorious sunshine on Saturday afternoon as up to 2,000 gay activists celebrated a resounding victory.<\/p>\n![\"Same](\"http:\/\/pahichan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Same-sex-300x180.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n