The Irish referendum on same-sex marriage has created a wave of hope for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality across Europe and indeed the rest of the world. Last weekend, 62% of Irish voters chose to back gay marriage in what the archbishop of Dublin described as "a social revolution."

The passing of the law in Ireland, a predominantly Catholic country, is already having a knock on effect all over the world, even in Italy, which has long been considered the home of the Catholic Church. Politicians in several countries are making renewed attempts to advance marriage equality legislation. German, Italian, and Australian lawmakers have all launched new efforts to allow same-sex couples to wed after an historic vote for marriage equality in Ireland. Read More