Ireland’s government has changed the Irish-language version of the wording on the upcoming May referendum on same-sex marriage following fears that heterosexual marriage could have been found unconstitutional, reports the Irish Times.
Prime Minister Enda Kenny (above, right) confirmed earlier this week the Irish-language version of the amendment has been changed to bring clarity to the amendment.
The English version of the original text is:
“Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex.”
When directly translated back into English, the original Irish translation “Féadfaidh beirt, cibé acu is fir nó mná iad, conradh a dhéanamh i leith pósadh de réir dlí” reads:
“A couple may, whether they are men or women, make a contract of marriage in accordance with law.”
The use of the plural allowed for an interpretation of the wording that it distinguished only between female couples and male couples, but not between same-sex and heterosexual couples.
The new wording in Irish is "Féadfaidh beirt gan beann ar a gnéis conradh pósta a dhéanamh de reir dlí”, which is a more literal translation of the original English version.
Watch a very sweet Irish pro-marriage equality ad:
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