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		Kerry County Council has passed a motion in support of civil marriage for same sex couples, becoming the 14th local authority in Ireland and Northern Ireland to pass a motion in support of marriage equality.</p>
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		The provision of marriage equality is set to be discussed by the Constitutional Convention on April 13<span class="s1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><sup style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">th</sup></span>&nbsp;and 14<span class="s1" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><sup style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">th</sup></span>. Recent polling carried out for Marriage Equality found that 75% of people would vote yes in a referendum to extend civil marriage to same sex couples &ndash; an increase of 12% from previous research carried out four years ago.</p>
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		&quot;This is a wonderful step by Kerry County Council to raise awareness of this important issue at a local level. We&#39;d like to thank all councillors involved for their initiative, Councillor Gillian Wharton-Slattery for tabling the motion, and our supporters across Kerry who spoke to their councillors about raising the issue,&quot; said Marriage Equality Director Moninne Griffith.</p>
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		&quot;Marriage equality is not just a national issue, it&#39;s a local one. It&#39;s about respecting and protecting loving couples and families who are part of our communities and treating them as equal. That is why putting the issue on the agenda at local level is so important. Tralee is hosting its first-ever Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride in May this year, and the passing of today&rsquo;s motion helps to further boost Kerry&rsquo;s reputation as a place that welcomes diversity and LGBT people.&rdquo;</p>
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		Marriage Equality are asking everyone who believes in marriage equality to make a submission at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.convention.ie/" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; text-decoration: initial; color: rgb(137, 227, 35); font-size: 13px;">www.convention.ie</a>, and to talk to their TDs and Senators about why marriage equality matters.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gcn.ie/Kerry_County_Council_Votes_In_Favour_Of_Same_Sex_Marriage">http://www.gcn.ie/Kerry_County_Council_Votes_In_Favour_Of_Same_Sex_Marriage</a></p>
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