Will Irish ayes be smiling?

By The Data Team

ON MAY 22^nd Ireland could become the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. If Irish voters pass the referendum measure, the country will join another 18 that grant full marriage equality. This would be a remarkably swift transition; homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993. Other attempts at liberalising social policy have met with mixed results. Divorce was only approved in 1995 at a second referendum and abortion has yet to pass after three attempts.