May 23, 2015

Irish voters have resoundingly backed amending the constitution to legalize gay marriage after the world’s first national vote on the issue.

The official results announced Saturday showed the “yes” support was 62.1 percent nationally. A “yes” victory, however, had been a forgone conclusion early into the official ballot counting.

Gay couples hugged and kissed each other amid scenes of jubilation at counting centers and at the official results center in Dublin Castle, whose cobblestoned central square was opened so thousands of revelers could sit in the sunshine and watch the results live on big-screen televisions.

“We’re the first country in the world to enshrine marriage equality in our constitution and do so by popular mandate. That makes us a beacon, a light to the rest of the world, of liberty and equality. So it’s a very proud day to be Irish,” said Leo Varadkar, a Cabinet minister who came out as gay at the start of a government-led effort to amend Ireland’s conservative Catholic constitution. – Tribune wire reports

: A supporter in favour of same-sex marriage stands under a rainbow umbrella as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. Voters in the Republic of Ireland are taking part in a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage on Friday. The referendum was held 22 years after Ireland decriminalised homosexuality with more than 3.2m people being asked whether they want to amend the country’s constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

: A lesbian couple kiss as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. Voters in the Republic of Ireland are taking part in a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage on Friday. The referendum was held 22 years after Ireland decriminalised homosexuality with more than 3.2m people being asked whether they want to amend the country’s constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

: DUBLIN, IRELAND – MAY 23: Supporters in favour of same-sex marriage celebrate and cheer as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. Voters in the Republic of Ireland are taking part in a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage on Friday. The referendum was held 22 years after Ireland decriminalised homosexuality with more than 3.2m people being asked whether they want to amend the country’s constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

: DUBLIN, IRELAND – MAY 23: A lesbian couple link arms around their waists as thousands gather in Dublin Castle square awaiting the referendum vote outcome on May 23, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. Voters in the Republic of Ireland are taking part in a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage on Friday. The referendum was held 22 years after Ireland decriminalised homosexuality with more than 3.2m people being asked whether they want to amend the country’s constitution to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

: People sort votes at a count centre in Dublin following the vote on same-sex marriage in Ireland on May 23, 2015. Counting got under way today in Ireland’s historic referendum on same-sex marriage, with thousands of people, some of whom rushed home from living abroad to vote, gathering to hear the results. (Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images)

: Supporters of same-sex marriage wait for the announcement of the referendum in Dublin castle on May 23, 2015. Ireland appeared to have voted to allow gay marriage today in a historic referendum which would see the historically Catholic country become the world’s first to make the change after a popular vote. (Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images)

: Supporters for same-sex marriage wait for the announcement of the referendum in Dublin castle on May 23, 2015. Ireland appeared to have voted to allow gay marriage today in a historic referendum which would see the historically Catholic country become the world’s first to make the change after a popular vote. (Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images)

: Supporters for same-sex marriage hold an inflatable Yes sign as they wait for the announcement on the referendum in Dublin castle on May 23, 2015. Ireland appeared to have voted to allow gay marriage today in a historic referendum which would see the historically Catholic country become the world’s first to make the change after a popular vote. (Paul FaithAFP/Getty Images)

: Drag queen and gay rights activist, Rory O’Neill, also known by his stage name Panti raises her arms by supporters for same-sex marriage at Dublin Castle as they wait for the result of the referendum on May 23, 2015. Yes voters were basking in the sunshine today as they gathered to celebrate an expected victory in Ireland’s referendum on whether to approve same-sex marriage. (Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images)

: Irish Senator Katherine Zappone, right, and partner Ann Louise Gilligan celebrate as the first results in the Irish referendum start to filter through at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Ireland has voted resoundingly to legalize gay marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue, leaders on both sides of the Irish referendum declared Saturday even as official ballot counting continued. Senior figures from the “no” campaign, who sought to prevent Ireland’s constitution from being amended to permit same-sex marriages, say the only question is how large the “yes” side’s margin of victory will be from Friday’s vote. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

: A couple wait for the final result in the Irish referendum at Dublin castle, Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Ireland has voted resoundingly to legalize gay marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue, leaders on both sides of the Irish referendum declared Saturday even as official ballot counting continued. Senior figures from the “no” campaign, who sought to prevent Ireland’s constitution from being amended to permit same-sex marriages, say the only question is how large the “yes” side’s margin of victory will be from Friday’s vote. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

: Yes supporters wait for the final result in the Irish referendum at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Ireland has voted resoundingly to legalize gay marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue, leaders on both sides of the Irish referendum declared Saturday even as official ballot counting continued. Senior figures from the “no” campaign, who sought to prevent Ireland’s constitution from being amended to permit same-sex marriages, say the only question is how large the “yes” side’s margin of victory will be from Friday’s vote. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

: Yes supporters celebrate as first results begin to filter through in referendum at Dublin castle, Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Ireland has voted resoundingly to legalize gay marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue, leaders on both sides of the Irish referendum declared Saturday even as official ballot counting continued. Senior figures from the “no” campaign, who sought to prevent Ireland’s constitution from being amended to permit same-sex marriages, say the only question is how large the “yes” side’s margin of victory will be from Friday’s vote. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

: Two men kiss as first results start to filter through in the referendum, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, May 23, 2015. Ireland has voted resoundingly to legalize gay marriage in the world’s first national vote on the issue, leaders on both sides of the Irish referendum declared Saturday even as official ballot counting continued. Senior figures from the “no” campaign, who sought to prevent Ireland’s constitution from being amended to permit same-sex marriages, say the only question is how large the “yes” side’s margin of victory will be from Friday’s vote. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Celebrating a same-sex marriage win in Ireland

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