Take a look at how the people of Ireland are showing support for marriage equality.
For years, LGBT activists have pushed to establish full, equal rights under Irish law.
The people of Ireland take to the polls to cast a vote that could improve the lives of countless citizens: a vote on whether or not they will embrace marriage equality.
A 2010 law granted same-sex couples the ability to apply for civil partnerships but still prevented them from being allowed the full equal treatment that comes with marriage. In 2013, the government announced that they would support putting the question of marriage equality up to a vote sometime in the first half of 2015, and that brings us to now.
Image by Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images.
The vote is a simple "yes" or "no," asking whether or not to add a single sentence to the country's constitution.
That sentence is simply, "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex."
Those in favor of marriage equality will vote "yes." Those opposed will vote "no."
LGBT people and their supporters have been out in full force urging the people of Ireland to vote yes, driving the hashtag "#VoteYes" near the top of Twitter's worldwide trend list.
The cause drew support from Ben & Jerry's.
Today, YOU have the chance to make history. VOTE YES to change Ireland's equality landscape forever. #YesEquality pic.twitter.com/gh9mxDPopK
— Ben&JerrysIRL (@BenandJerrysIRL) May 22, 2015
Rock band U2 voiced support for equality in the country they call home.
A photo posted by U2 Official (@u2) on
And best of all, it brought out some incredibly thoughtful, energetic tweets from regular people about to experience something fantastic in their country.
I'm voting Yes! Are you? #VoteYesForEquality #voteyes #irishreferendum #MarRef2015 pic.twitter.com/2bvvegzDme
— Sheilann (@SheilannO) May 22, 2015
Ruthe later admitted that she ate the "I've" Skittles but it's the thought that counts.
I didn't have enough skittles for "I've". Sorry. #YesEquality #VoteYes #MarRef pic.twitter.com/5GQPGkN4ci
— Ruthe Phoenix (@RuthePhoenix) May 22, 2015
Let's hope there are not as many shy no voters in #MarRef as there were shy Tories at #GE2015. #VoteYes #GoIreland pic.twitter.com/H4yWP02B5J
— Matthew Dekenah (@MattDekenah) May 22, 2015
There were lots of pictures of people going to or from the polling place.
Just voted in the #MarRef and voted YES for #marriagequality! Get out and #VoteYes today and we'll #MakeGraTheLaw! pic.twitter.com/VU76xJmJN4
— Kieron Pierson (@mrkieronpierson) May 22, 2015
#VoteYes , Via Snapchat:Instagram pic.twitter.com/EVi51nWrnd
— Sinead Cady (@SineadCUpdates) May 22, 2015
Support also came in the form of clothing choices.
Supporting equality in #Ireland with my socks #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/GuTpjZAkVk
— Etienne Chevalier (@Moon_Face_Boy) May 22, 2015
John here makes an excellent point. What better way to show how much you appreciate the work of Oscar Wilde than to improve the lives of LGBT people in his home country? I mean, other than tattooing a quote of his on your body like I did.
Do it for Oscar Wilde and all #LGBT people #VoteYes #Ireland #VoteYesForEquality #MarRef #equality #equalmarriage pic.twitter.com/WKhyTrUGU7
— John Sinopoli (@TheJohnSinopoli) May 22, 2015
My absolute favorite, however, is this post by Kevin Beirne. His mom made a few, let's say, changes to his room.
Came #hometovote all the way from London and found my mum had made some subtle changes to my room for me #VoteYes pic.twitter.com/BOdxqXhJoN
— Kevin Beirne (@KevBeirne) May 21, 2015
No matter who you are or where you live, you can appreciate how powerful this moment is in history.
Take, for example, the story of William and Kevin. The two have been together for nearly 10 years. They recently got engaged and live in Savannah, Georgia. For them, there's hope that the U.S. will support marriage equality with the upcoming Supreme Court decision.
They look at Ireland's situation with hope for their own future.
#VoteYes I know we can prove love wins over ALL #VoteYes & I need to be able to marry so help me out #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/7d47iprs7W
— Devonn Duncan (@Willdd79) May 22, 2015
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.