DUBLIN, Ireland (UPI) -- Ireland's conservative society took another
step toward liberalization Thursday when the parliament overturned 132-
year-old legislation banning homosexual acts.
	After the liberalization of condom sales earlier this month in the
fight against AIDS, the coalition government of Prime Minister Albert
Reynolds removed one of the few remaining pillars of conservative
legislation when a bill was passed through all stages of the Dail,
Ireland's parliament.
	Despite strong opposition of the Roman Catholic Church, homosexual
acts between consenting males are now legal. The age of consent was set
at 17, the same age for heterosexuals.
	The move comes five years after a gay rights politician successfully
took a case against the Irish government at the European Court of Human
Rights in Strasbourg, France. That ruling should have prompted the
immediate decriminalization of gay acts in Ireland, but successive
governments dragged their heels on the issue.
	Thursday's vote overturned two laws enacted last century before
Ireland gained its independence from Britain. They were the same laws
under which Oscar Wilde, the Irish dramatist, was tried and imprisoned
for homosexuality.
	In 1861, British-ruled Ireland enacted a law banning homosexual
activity. In 1885, it enacted a law that strengthened the earlier
measure.
--
This, and all articles in this news hierarchy are Copyright 1993 by the wire 
service or information provider and licensed to Clarinet Communications 
Corp.  for distribution.  Except for free samples, only paid subscribers 
may access these articles.  Any unauthorized access, reproduction or 
transmission is strictly prohibited.  We will reward the first provider of 
information that helps us stop violators of this copyright.  Send reports 
to reward@clarinet.com.  (Note that while we do like to know about people
who do the odd reposting to USENET without permission, rewards are not
always provided for reports on such postings, since they're usually obvious.)