Colin Farrell is to appear on Irish state broadcaster RTE this evening to discuss the issue of same-sex marriage
Colin Farrell is to appear on Irish state broadcaster RTE this evening to discuss the issue of same-sex marriage, reports The Journal.
Farrell's brother Eamon (above left) married his partner Stephen Mannion in Canada.
In a pre-recorded section to be aired tonight on Claire Byrne Live, the actor – who has long been a supporter of gay rights and same-sex marriage – says:
“I remember [my brother] coming home with blood on his shirt, and he got plenty of beatings and he got just called names continuously…so he had a very, very, very tough time, a lot of cruelty, like real, absolute shameful cruelty that was placed upon him.
“To see [Eamon and Stephen] every day live their lives as a happily married couple is an amazing thing.
“To think that they had to leave their own country to do that is sad and disappointing and just grossly unfair I feel.
“It's too easy for heterosexuals to be parents, if you want the truth. It's too easy. There are too many of us who find it too easy to have a kid.
“Too many parents around the world don't parent their kids, because it was a five minute thing…and there it is. We're talking about Irish society being the best version in any referendum, divorce, same sex marriage, being the best version of ourselves that we can be.
“I carry Ireland with me everywhere I go, and I love my country deeply.
“This is my coming out of the closet as it were publicly and saying that I support this vote with every fibre of my being.”
The decision by Irish health minister Leo Varadkar to come out yesterday has been regarded by many as a boon to the “yes” campaign in a referendum this May on same-sex marriage.
