Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I feel truly humbled to be a Member of a Seanad which has as a Member a man who almost single-handedly over the course of 50 years made our State and our society tolerant, as well as a beacon for other nations around the world. Who would have thought that in 1973, when Senator Norris commenced his campaign to decriminalise homosexuality, Ireland would become the first country in the entire world to equalise our marriage laws through a popular vote? There are generations of Irish people who would scarcely believe that being homosexual was a statutory offence between 1861 and 1993. As a proud father of a gay daughter - my business partner who is now married to a Texan with a beautiful daughter - it is a great measure of the social transformation which has taken place in our society.

I regret to say, however, there may also be a generation who have forgotten Senator Norris's struggle.