Culture
10 May 18

In The New Hot Press: Lenny Abrahamson On Repealing the 8th

In The New <i>Hot Press</i>: Lenny Abrahamson On Repealing the 8th

Filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson writes openly about how the#MeToo movement has allowed women, and men, to finally voice their opposition to the oppressive, harmful and archaic power dynamics that linger in our society. In Ireland, he writes, the Repeal movement is doing a similar thing, both for women and for society.

"Things have changed in significant ways which we should celebrate," he writes. "Attitudes to LGBT people have been transformed - a major, unequivocal victory. But these battles are not yet won."

"The 8th is a huge barrier on the road to an enlightened Ireland, where policy is informed by rationality and compassion, not dogma and the impulse to control. Those most active in opposing Repeal are the same people who have fought against progress in every aspect of our journey and their arguments are disingenuous.

"The idea that the right to life springs fully formed into being at the moment of conception is entirely incoherent outside of a particular religious world view, which is entirely valid to hold, but no business whatsoever of the State to enshrine in the constitution or laws of this Republic."

Lenny Abrahamson is one of over 100 voices from Irish society who spoken up for Repeal in the new issue of Hot Press.
From Laura Whitmore to Emma Donoghue; Seana Kerslake to Cillian Murphy; from the long, considered contributions Carol Keogh, to pithy one-liners from people like Cathy Davey and Eleanor McEvoy, the 100 voices here combine emotion with reason; thoughtful facts and research with meaningful real-life stories.

The new issue Hot Press is in stores now or you can buy it below.