Colin Farrell Wants Same-Sex Marriage In Ireland "With Every Fiber Of My Being"
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Colin and Eamonn Farrell[/caption]
Colin Farrell appeared on Irish television network RTE this week to speak about the referendum on same-sex marriage facing his homeland. "I have no choice, my brother roped me in," joked the Winter's Tale star, who served as Best Man at his brother Eamonn’s wedding to Steven Mannion, in 2009.
"I've seen my brother go through a lot," acknowledged Colin. "I've seen him be at the tail end of the whip of intolerance many times. And they are his battles, and his wounds, and his traumas, but bearing witness to them at close quarters, of course, and caring for him as much as I do, it had an effect on me." Fortunately Eaamon has found happiness in matrimony for the past six years: "They have an incredibly successful marriage... And to think that they had to leave their own country to do that is sad and disappointing and grossly unfair, I think." Though Colin calls Hollywood home now, he says a vote against equality is a step backward for Ireland.
I carry Ireland with me everywhere I go, and I love my country deeply. As I said, I respect the other side. But you have to understand, this is a demographic of society—gay, lesbian, transgender—who have been ostracized and polarized and excluded for so long.
Great change comes about in moments of uncertainty; you follow some deep compassionate echo in the cavern of your own heart and you just go for what I see is ultimately a beautiful and wonderful change in Ireland. This is my coming out of the closet, as it were, and saying that I support this vote with every fiber of my being.
Check out his impassioned interview below.
