Following a successful nomination to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) by Marriage Equality, Senator Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan have been featured in the EU organisation’s “Women Inspiring Europe” 2012 calendar along with leading inspirational female role models in Europe.

2011 has been celebrated as a great year for the LGBT community. Of course, as long as severe inequality persists, it’s difficult to wholeheartedly agree that it was a great year. All the same, 2011 has certainly upheld that crucial message; that it gets better. So, grab a cup o’ kindness and we’ll run through some of the achievements of the LGBT movement in 2011.

The fight for marriage equality in Ireland suffered a minor setback yesterday when the Supreme Court ruled against Senator Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan on a technical point.

Yes, I’ve prattled on before about the changing nature of marriage – through time and in its variations around the world – but I think it’s important to take a look at marriage in Ireland, trace its history, and ask: can equality be legislated?

This just in from our friends at Marriage Equality: Senator Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan will be in the Supreme Court tomorrow (Friday, 21st October) at 10:45am for a motion to amend their pleadings. Although the Court will not be hearing the case tomorrow, its decision may provide us with an indication of how the Supreme Court is feeling about this case

Ready your dancing shoes (and hats)! Engage your queer history brain! Get political! Get theatrical! It’s lesbian February! (Let me know in the comments anything I’ve missed.)

On Monday, 11th October 2010, National Coming Out Day will be celebrated at various events throughout the United States. Does Ireland need to do the same?

On Wednesday, a chief justice of a federal court in the U.S. demanded to know precisely what is meant when opponents of marriage equality say that such recognition would undermine marriage. The case goes to trial in January 2010, and could have an impact on other jurisdictions, including Ireland.

We met up with those heroines of the gay world, Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan, recently, for a candid chat about the inequality we still suffer. “Homosexuals are told, “That’s enough…No, no. No marriage for you, pal.” I mean, it’s unbelievable, outrageous. It’s utterly outrageous”.

For those who may not be familiar, Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan have taken Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners and others to the courts seeking to have their Canadian marriage recognised in this jurisdiction.