First it was the pink pound. Now it is the pink vote. Fianna Fáil and several other political parties have taken out advertisements in the newly relaunched Gay Community News this month.
The issue, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality as well as the annual Pride march, has attracted advertisements from Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party and the SDLP.
The Fianna Fáil advertisement states that the party is "committed to ensuring the rights of gay and lesbian people in Ireland". It outlines its involvement in legislation which enshrines the rights of homosexual people, beginning with the legalisation of homosexuality in 1993.
A Fianna Fáil spokesman said the party was a populist one and would advertise wherever the people were. "We don't distinguish between particular publications," he said. The party was also proud to have been part of the Government that decriminalised homosexuality.
Fianna Fáil was on a recruitment drive and was looking for members from all sectors of society, he said. Asked if this would alienate the more conservative Fianna Fáil voters, the spokesman said "no, I don't think so at all".
In the early 1990s, much of the opposition to the decriminalisation of homosexuality came from Fianna Fáil members. Senator Don Lydon was often quoted as being one of its strongest opponents but yesterday he said he had never campaigned against decriminalisation. He was widely reported to have made a graphic address to the parliamentary party in 1992, describing gay sexual practices.
Yesterday he said his comments had been "elaborated and exaggerated" and his views had been misrepresented in the media. He said he had no problem with the Fianna Fáil advertisement.
Mr Kieran Rose, co-chair of Gay and Lesbian Network, said it was good to see Fianna Fáil taking pride in its achievements for the gay and lesbian community. He hoped the Government would follow them by implementing the recommendations made by the National Economic and Social Forum on rights for gay couples.
Mr Rose said he didn't expect strong opposition to partnership rights for gay couples as decriminalisation of homosexuality had been introduced with relatively little opposition.
Fine Gael's failure to advertise in Gay Community News had nothing to do with the subject matter, a spokeswoman said. The party did not advertise unless connected with a political campaign or a recruitment drive. She said it was established Fine Gael policy to allow for greater equality for the gay and lesbian community.
