#neither of those translate well to like…. sweatshirt design

[alsoanyways]

i am going to scream

[hms-chill]

Secondly: Alex always saying sweet things to Henry in Spanish but won't tell him what any of it means, and he's always google translating them and awe-ing at how cute Alex is and then like maybe he learns how to say something adorable to and says it to Alex and Alex just like melts or something

I present to you: “Speaking My Language”

“¿Lo amas, cierto?”

“Por supuesto. Lo amo más que a nada.”

Henry, resting his head on his boyfriend’s lap, blinks up at Alex and hums a question. He’s too jet lagged to be paying attention to the Diaz conversation happening above him, even if it was in English, but Alex sounds so happy. Henry isn’t used to that tender tone being used for anyone or anything other than him, but Alex just strokes his hair and says, “It’s nothing, baby.”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Nah; we’re talking policy. Boring American things. Sleep, Corazón.”

That hadn’t sounded like Alex’s politics tone, but Henry is too tired to care too much in the moment. Instead, his brain sticks on the last word, and he asks, “What’s that mean?”

“It means I love you.”

“I love you.” Henry turns his head to kiss Alex’s wrist, and as he closes his eyes, he hears Alex say, “Papá, lo amo tanto. Más de lo que nunca pensé que podría amar a nadie en el mundo.”

“Y yo los amo a los dos, mijo. Mis hijos.” Oscar comes to sit on the couch next to Alex, pulling him into a hug, and Alex is so full of love he thinks he might burst. Henry feels Alex’s hand stop moving through his hair and presses a kiss to his boyfriend’s jeans, and Alex squeezes his shoulder gently before going back to playing with Henry’s hair. Just before he falls asleep, Henry hears Alex start to sing in Spanish, Oscar joining him. The last thought that crosses Henry’s jet-lagged mind is that he should learn Spanish.

-

He starts with Duolingo, just like anyone else who wants to learn a language, building his vocabulary in pieces on the way to the shelter or in other stolen moments. Some of the kids at the youth shelter speak Spanish, or are taking it in school, and he practices with them, fumbling his way through sentences and making sure they take him off any princely pedistels they might have him on. When he can, he’ll get lessons from them or, occasionally, from June over the phone. He holds onto the things that made Alex happiest, and once he figures out which kids will tell him the truth, he asks one of them what “Corazón” means. She grins.

“That means ‘heart’. It’s a term of endearment sometimes, like ‘sweetheart’, but without the sweet part and more personal? So more like 'you’re my heart’? It means the person who said it loves you a lot.” Henry smiles, and she asks, “Where’d you hear it?”

“My boyfriend. He and his dad were speaking Spanish, and I asked what they said. He said it was nothing, but I’m not so sure. I think he’s just shy. What about “amo”? I heard that a lot; what does it mean?“

"That’s 'I love’,” the girl says, smiling at him, and Henry blushes. He’s heard that word quite a bit in Alex’s Spanish conversations.

“One more? What… what does "hijos” mean? His dad called us that, and it made him really happy, but I think I keep spelling it wrong when I try to translate it.“

"That’s… 'sons’, translated literally. Or like… 'boys’? But not like 'those boys over there’, more like 'kiddos’ sort of? Did you hear any context?”

“I think it was just 'mis hijos’.”

“'My sons’ or 'my boys’, then. What?”

“It’s… thank you. You’re the best,” Henry says past the lump in his throat.

“Henry? You okay?”

“I’m fine; thank you, really. How’s your homework coming? Want me to proofread your essay?”

“Sure. Then you should tell me more of the things your boyfriend says about you.”

Henry laughs, turning to her essay. Still, there’s a warmth in his chest that he hadn’t expected.

Mis hijos. My boys.

-

Bea finds out what he’s doing, probably from June, and she’s the one who gets him connected with a tutor. It’s a birthday gift, and she makes sure to find someone who can be flexible and chat when Alex isn’t around. Somehow, the lessons feel like something Alex doesn’t need to know about. If he knew, he might stop murmuring Spanish phrases before they go to bed. He might stop talking to his family or the kids at the shelter in Spanish, or at least, it would feel less secretive. Plus, personally, Henry wants to wait until he’s conversational to reveal his newfound ability.

The bonus of Alex’s not knowing Henry can speak a bit of Spanish is that Henry gets to hear his say things he’s too embarrassed or shy to say in English. “Te amo”, I love you, is a common one, murmured before bed or in response to a morning coffee. “Dios mio”, my god, isn’t rare, and neither is “puto/a/x” (fucker/bitch). But then there are things like “me encantas”, which his tutor translates as “you enchant me”, or “eres mi mundo, mi cielo, y todas mis estrellas”. That one comes late enough that Henry can translate some of it on his own, and he makes sure to google “cielo” and “mundo” on the way into work the next morning. He melts in the back of the car. Apparently, he’s Alex’s world, his sky, and all his stars.

-

He’s thought about when to reveal his new talent. He’d considered proposing in Spanish, but being married to a prince could be detrimental to Alex’s career, and they’ve already promised each other forever. They’ve talked about it, but no matter how desperate the world is for another royal wedding, neither of them feel the need to jump through every international legal hoop. They love each other, and besides, Henry’s already given Alex a ring. It hangs around his neck every day, a constant reminder of their promise. Alex had noticed him rubbing the skin where it used to sit and picked up a simple gold band, just big enough to fiddle with, so perhaps they’ve already gotten accidentally engaged.

Instead, he considers Alex’s birthday, waking him up with kisses and Spanish terms of endearment. It would make a nice gift, and it’ll give him time to clean up his conjugation a bit.

As it turns out, he slips up well before March.

Henry never celebrated Thanksgiving before he started dating Alex, and last year, he had to be in London so he could be in DC for Christmas. He knows about the holiday and its turkey-based chaos, of course, but they don’t celebrate it in England. So when he and Alex get dressed up and board the train to DC with a big plate of biscuits and David in a carrier, he’s not entirely sure what to expect. They’re supposed to be meeting Oscar at the train station, then going to the White House for some sort of family dinner tonight and a public appearance or two tomorrow, but beyond that, he’s unsure.

“Henry? It’s going to be fine. My family loves you; there’s no reason to be nervous.”

“I know. I know it’ll be fine; it just feels a bit weird. I’ve never celebrated Thanksgiving.”

“Right, well, I got you something for that.”

Alex pulls out a gift bag, and Henry takes it with a slight frown. “What’s this?”

“Open it.” Alex’s grin is shit-eating, and he beams when Henry sees what’s inside. It’s a tiny t-shirt that says “My First Thanksgiving!”.

“Thanks.”

“There’s a bib too; it came as a set. And as a bonus, I commissioned one in your size, and you’ve got to wear it tomorrow.”

He’s pulled out a crew neck sweatshirt with the same design as the baby shirt, complete with a cartoon turkey holding a knife and fork. It says “Stuffing” on the back, and when he flips the smaller one over, it says “Cornbread”.

“It’s after the turkeys who made me call you that first time. But for real, I thought maybe David could wear the baby one, since it’s his first Thanksgiving, too. And you don’t have to wear it if you don’t want; Nora and I were on Etsy together and–”

Henry cuts him off with a kiss, then says, “I’ll wear it. Es perfecto.” It’s perfect.

“¿Te gusta? ¿De verdad?“ You like it? Of verdad?

"Um, sí?” It comes out more of a question than he was anticipating, and Henry gets the distinct joy of watching Alex’s brain catch up to the rest of him.

“Wait, you know Spanish? You don’t speak Spanish. Do you?”

“Un poco.” A bit.

“You son of a bitch. How long have you known Spanish?”

“Um, a few months? Maybe? I wanted to learn after that night you called me 'Corazón’. Your… you sounded so happy, and I wanted to know what was happening.” And your dad called us his boys. I wanted to know what he said that made you so happy, and it was that he called us his boys.

“You little shit. I love you so much.”

“Te amo,” Henry says, watching Alex’s smile shift into something quieter, more personal. More full of love.

“Te amo para siempre.”

“I… you love me forever?”

“And ever and ever and ever,” Alex says. After a moment, he adds, “Does this mean we can talk shit in public now?”

“I’m not very good yet, but maybe? Right now, I can tell you I love you more publically.”

“That’s more important. Holy shit, now I can tell you how much I love you in front of your family. Henry. Te amo. Te adoro. That’s 'I adore you’. Um, let’s see, what else.” And for the rest of the train ride, Alex teaches Henry the basic Spanish he needs to know, which consists of a lovely mix of insults and terms of endearment.

When they get off at the station, Oscar is waiting for them with a massive grin, big hugs, and a cheer of, “Mis hijos!”

Henry feels Alex tense up for a second before he’s swept into Oscar’s hug, and he makes a mental note to ask about that. But then he’s getting a hug, too, and Alex is opening David’s carrier and getting his leash on, and they’ve got an excited beagle to deal with, and they’re all piling into a van to the White House. Things are equally hectic there, down to the two new turkeys (Potatoes and Green Bean) who’ve taken up residence in Alex’s room.

It isn’t until they’re in bed that night, trying to ignore Green Bean’s stare, that Henry gets a chance to ask, “Everything alright?”

“Everything’s perfect. Tomorrow I get to watch you wear a stupid sweater and eat loads with my family. Why?”

“You… you tensed up when we met up with your dad.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I… it’s just… he called us hijos, and you… do you know that one yet?”

“Yeah, I… one of the kids explained it to me.”

“I just… I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it. I know he’s used it before, but I also know you miss your dad a lot, and I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable. You don’t have to be okay with it; I can ask him to stop if you want and he’ll get it. He doesn’t mean to replace your dad or anything; I know he doesn’t. But he loves you a lot. They all do. We all do. Them not as much as me, obviously, but seriously. You’re… we all think of you as family.”

“I… I know. And it makes me happy. When your dad calls us hijos, I mean. It… it’s nice.”

Alex grins at that, cuddling in closer. Then Green Bean gobbles, and Alex lets out a quiet, “Dios mio.” Henry laughs.

“You sure you don’t want to sleep in my room?”

“I think that might be wise. I thought I could beat them this year, I really did.”

“Hold on a second; get the lights on?” Henry asks. Alex does, and Henry opens his instagram stories.

“So, I’m in the White House, it’s around midnight, maybe? We’ve got to be up for an appearance around nine tomorrow morning, and I’m going to show you all my very favorite Thanksgiving tradition. It’s when this one,” he flips the camera to Alex, who’s eyeing Green Bean suspiciously, “insists on keeping two live turkeys in his room instead of letting them spend a night in a hotel. Then, he gets scared–”

“I am not scared! I’m wary. Intelligently so; I’ve seen Jurassic Park.”

“He gets wary, and he calls me to protect him. That’s right, Alex. Let the motherland look after you. I’ll keep you safe from these vicious American monsters.” He stops the recording on a shot of himself hugging Alex protectively, and Alex agrees to let him post it on two conditions: “You wear the 'my first Thanksgiving’ sweatshirt on live TV, and I get a recording of you speaking Spanish.”

“I’ll butcher the Spanish.”

“It doesn’t matter. If you post that, I get a recording of you speaking Spanish.”

Henry agrees as they make it to his room, falling into bed together, happy to be out from under Green Bean’s watchful eyes. Alex falls asleep first, and Henry reaches for his phone. He’s not sure how often Alex uses voice memos, but there’s a recent recording, so Henry starts another titled “Corazón” and says, softly enough not to wake him, “Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz, eres mi mundo, mi cielo, y todas mis estrellas. Me encantas, y te amo. Te amo muchísimo. Eres el novio de mis fantasías, y soy la persona más feliz del mundo contigo. Te amo, corazón.”

Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz, you are my world, my sky, and all my stars. You enchant me, and I love you. I love you so much. You are the boyfriend of my dreams, and I am happier than anyone in the world with you. I love you, my heart.

On AO3

Notes:

Please excuse my Spanish; I was mediocre four years ago and haven’t practiced since. But here are some (intended) translations for the first conversation, which I believe is the only untranslated bit:“You love him, yeah?”“Of course. I love him more than anything.”…“Dad, I love him so much. More than I ever thought I could love anything in the world.”“And I love you both, son. My boys”

Edit: A massive shoutout to @felinarealista for fixing my Spanish; you’re an angel

[peppermint-shamrock]

The First Dark Game

The game is pretty different between the Toei and manga versions. The DM anime doesn’t include it at all, and neither does Pyramid of Light, since the Ushio plotline is dropped. It does have Atem fending off the Duel Monsters as the overdramatic guy he is, which is probably the closest equivalent:

(dub version)

(sub version. The sub version also shows the monsters being repelled, there’s just no further dialogue at that point).

In both versions, he repels the monsters with the Puzzle, they vanish and as the Puzzle settles, Yuugi’s back, looking a little confused about what just happened.

It doesn’t have much in common with the manga and Toei versions, but I figured I should round out those scenes (and also show you Atem being overdramatic because that’s always enjoyable).

In the manga, since Yuugi was at home, there’s a short time skip after showing him getting possessed, to where Ushio is waiting in the schoolyard, saying that Yuugi had called him there to meet at midnight (this telephone call isn’t shown). Atem is just sitting on top of something (not sure what it is, it has numbers 1 through 4 on it), and greets Ushio. Ushio comments, saying he doesn’t like the costume. The costume being the black buckle shirt, the collar, a couple ankhs on the arms, some dark shoes, and Yuugi’s school uniform. This is in contrast to what Yuugi was wearing earlier at school, a white polo shirt with his school uniform and white sneakers, and no collar. And while he was working on the Puzzle he had a hoodie sweatshirt on.

What Yuugi was wearing at school:

What Yuugi was wearing while working on the Puzzle:

What Atem is wearing as he’s first shown:

Apparently he felt it was necessary to dig through Yuugi’s clothes and dress up for the occasion. Although I do wonder where he got those ankhs, they don’t really seem like stuff Yuugi’d have lying around. The collar and buckle shirt, sure, the shoes, yeah. But the ankhs? And how are they attached?

Anyway, aside from noticing that “Yuugi” is dressed differently, Ushio asks for the money. Atem says he has double the amount, but that it wouldn’t be fun to just hand it over, so why don’t they play a game for it?

The Toei anime does things differently, since Yuugi and Ushio were already at the school when Yuugi solved the Puzzle. As Ushio walks away, Atem says, unseen, his “It’s Game Time” line. A rope catches around Ushio, and the world twists so that Ushio is now hanging off the side of a wall of a tower. He cries out in surprise, and Atem appears at the top of the tower. Ushio is surprised to see him. Atem greets him and says “I’ve got what you want, right here.” Ushio assumes that he means he brought the money, and says that he wouldn’t have needed to beat Yuugi up. He then demands it be handed over. Atem says that’s boring and asks to have a game (not that Ushio really has a choice here as he’s been tied up).

In both versions, Atem states that it’s a Dark Game, and Ushio accepts the game. In the manga, Atem indicates that they’ll need Ushio’s knife to play and he wonders just what kind of game needs that. In the Toei version, Ushio boasts that he’s never lost at any game, and Atem replies that that’s impressive, before leaping down the wall with his own rope, sliding out a deck of cards along the wall (somehow they stay in place).

Atem explains the rules. In the manga, he says that they’ll take turns placing the money on top of their hand, and stabbing the pile with the knife, keeping each bill that they stab through, until all the money is gone. He then asks if Ushio thinks it’s an interesting game, as though it’s a perfectly normal sort of game people would play. Ushio says that it’s just a test of courage, and wonders if it’s really Yuugi that he’s talking to. It seems to unnerve him, but not enough to walk away. Atem also threatens that if Ushio breaks the rules, he’ll face a Penalty Game.

In the anime, Atem explains that they take turns flipping over a card, and climb the wall by the amount on the card. As one person rises, the other sinks, since they are connected by the rope.

In the manga, the pair do rock-paper-scissors to decide who goes first, which Atem wins and goes first. In the anime, Ushio simply declares that he’ll go first, and picks up a card.

In both versions, they go back and forth with their turns. In the manga, Ushio is getting more of the money, being able to stab harder. Even so, Atem taunts him about being able to control his strength. On the last turn, Ushio thinks that he will be able to get the rest of the money, but finds that he’s unable to keep himself from stabbing down with all his strength. He starts freaking out as Atem thinks about how Ushio’s true nature is revealed and how he’s being controlled by his greed. Not wanting to stab through his hand, Ushio decides to turn the knife on Atem, who leaps out of the way somehow, and states that he knew that Ushio wouldn’t follow the rules.

In the Toei version, Atem has the advantage throughout, consistently pulling higher numbers than Ushio. With Atem one step from the top, Ushio pulls a Joker, which skips his turn. Ushio accuses Atem of rigging the game. Atem doesn’t respond, and picks up the next card, which allows him to move to the top. Ushio refuses to accept that and starts climbing his way up. Atem then threatens that if he breaks the rules like that he’ll face something terrible. Ushio reaches the top and attempts to strike Atem, who slides out of the way, saying that he knew Ushio couldn’t follow the rules. Ushio breaks the rope holding Atem up, causing him to fall towards the water. He goes to grab the money, only to find that it’s another deck of cards.

In the manga, Ushio then notices the eye on Atem’s forehead, and starts panicking about it. Atem says that it appears to those who trespass on his soul by hurting his friends. He then issues his penalty game, leaving Ushio convinced that money is falling all around him. Atem comments on how that that will be all that he can see, and that it might actually be a happy situation for him because of how greedy Ushio is.

It’s interesting to note how Atem is talking here (although take this with a grain of salt since this is the Viz edition, and I’m aware that they take liberties with translation). He almost definitely thinks he is Yuugi. Whether he’s aware of Yuugi existing separately (i.e., he thinks he’s Yuugi but knows he’s not the “main personality”) within him is less clear.

In the anime, the eye appears on Atem’s forehead as he states that the “Door of Darkness has opened”. Ushio falls, and it’s revealed that Atem had somehow grabbed onto the side of the tower. As Ushio falls past him, Atem comments on how the game revealed Ushio’s true nature and how he’ll be swallowed in his greed. Ushio panics, but then thinks that he’ll only get wet as he sees the water below him. Then three monsters pop out and devour Ushio as he falls. Atem makes no further commentary and the scene cuts off there.

For the most part, I prefer the manga version here as well. In the manga, the game really is designed to take advantage of Ushio’s flaws – already we can see Atem’s ability to quickly analyze his opponent and use their strength against them. The anime doesn’t have that here, and Ushio’s declaration that the game was rigged isn’t necessarily wrong – it could have been, we don’t know. While I personally don’t like the idea of Atem outright cheating (rather than exploiting weaknesses), there’s no way to know that he hadn’t stacked the deck in the anime. The game in the manga is more fair, and it truly is Ushio’s greed that makes him lose. I also like that the game still takes place in the real world, unlike the anime which is some other, created space. Ushio had the chance to walk away, and he didn’t have that chance in the anime. But also that the magic feels more significant and creepy when in the regular world.

The anime does have more of a penalty for the penalty game, however. As Atem himself said in the manga, Ushio’s pretty happy with the situation, even if it isn’t real. I mean, yes it’s still pretty screwed up, but compared with future penalty games, it’s not as harsh as you would expect, since it’s basically putting him into his ideal world.

I do prefer the visuals of the manga’s penalty game, however. Despite the anime taking advantage of motion, the manga’s version is much more visually appealing. And certainly creepier – while he loses that look as time goes by, Atem definitely looks like a possessed Yuugi right now.

The anime does get some points in its favor though. Mainly because Megumi Ogata does such a great job with Atem. Probably my favorite voice for him. I don’t like her Yuugi voice as much, as it’s too child-like for my tastes, but her Atem is SO good. She plays him with a great balance of creepy and alluring that works really well for his early character.

[asylum-ireland-blog]

Why men's voices are vital in Ireland's abortion referendum

New Post has been published on http://asylumireland.ml/why-mens-voices-are-vital-in-irelands-abortion-referendum/

Why men's voices are vital in Ireland's abortion referendum

Male allies in politics, the creative scene, and all walks of Irish life are stepping up alongside women to fight the system that oppresses them

‘Ireland Unfree’ is a Dazed mini-series telling the stories of Ireland’s bold fight for abortion rights, in the run up to the monumental referendum on the eighth amendment. Stirring protest, creativity, personal politics, and vital conversation, these Irish people push for autonomy. Here, we share their journey on Dazed.

The death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012 had an earth-swallowing feel to it. Denied of the basic healthcare required to ensure her survival, a constitutional amendment deemed her life – 31 years of complex human love, colour, and learning – of the same value as a 17-week-old fetus. She died in Ireland’s University Hospital Galway in Ireland due to the complications of a septic miscarriage. Her husband, Praveen, was dutifully left to channel her lost voice and carry her legacy on his already burdened shoulders.

On Friday May 25, Irish citizens will go to the polls to determine if the controversial Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution, which equates the right to life of the mother to the unborn, should be removed and repealed. The amendment, which criminalised abortion in almost all cases, was brought about as a result of a 1983 referendum, a time when the Catholic Church in Ireland was still very much an arm of government. Divorce was still illegal. Contraception was a taboo. Homosexuality remained outlawed.

The Irish man, of course, has no such lack of bodily freedom. Yet, about 70 per cent of Irish women who receive abortion care in the U.K. are married or with a partner. That is, conservatively speaking, thousands of fathers and partners that the Eighth Amendment has, too, bound to secrecy and shame.

Actor and author Emmet Kirwan – who last year created the beautiful spoken-word short film Heartbreak – views the redressing of Ireland’s wrongs broadly and disputes any sense of moral responsibility on individual men. “It’s not just a binary issue of males versus females: It’s an institutional issue,” he tells me. “Whether they be governmental, health, Church – all various arms of the state. There has been an institutionalised gender bias.”

On Irish streets, in local bars, on shop corners, through headlines painted across newspapers and hashtags proliferating via social media posts – there is a bitter political divisiveness that this debate has wrought, a clearly-defined chasm that calls other political ruptures of late to mind. No wonder there have been questions of sinister outside interference akin to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In response, micro-campaigns have popped up all over social media – necessary conversation-sparking tools.

Ger Murphy, a 35-year-old events manager from South-Dublin, decided that Irish men needed to contribute to the dialogue around abortion rights. A conversation that, without question, needed their support. In late February, he founded the Men For Repeal Facebook page – ‘balls to the 8th’ is its light-hearted but defiant URL – after some troubling conversations about male engagement. Murphy sought to, at minimum, challenge the many outspoken men on the other side of the debate.

A large subset of the Irish male population, Murphy tells me over the phone, feel this is not their vote, that this a women’s issue that has no true bearing on their existence. Outside of the reality of crisis pregnancies which routinely affect women everyday, the idea that it’s a women-only issue is misguided, disingenuous, and, frankly, outdated. In truth, indifference largely translates as pro-choice.

“Whether they be governmental, health, Church – all various arms of the state. There has been an institutionalised gender bias” – Emmet Kirwan

“There is no problem in coming out and saying there is a male aspect to this issue. The vast amount of women would agree that the men in their lives are being affected as well,” Murphy says of the messaging. “The left trips over itself sometimes trying to be too PC about these things.”

Complacency is participating in neither debate nor democratic process, and it’s something to be concerned about. Kirwan, one of the most vocal Irish artists, explains there are no excuses for liberal-minded men eschewing their right to vote in the referendum: “The kind of passive, non-participation is essentially giving the vote over to the other side. This kind of idea that you can affect change by doing nothing; it’s a logical fallacy.”

Gordon Grehan of the Transgender Equality Network also tells me that repeal is “imperative to ensuring the rights of all people who can become pregnant, including trans men and non-binary people”. He adds: “As a trans organisation, we know the importance of ensuring self-determination, bodily integrity and physical autonomy.” As previously detailed in Brian O’Flynn’s report on the pro-choice campaign’s push for inclusivity, marginalised people like trans men who can get pregnant must be included in the conversation.

I’ve listened to women’s stories they deserve better. A No vote won’t stop abortions but continues the hypocrisy, shame and stigma. A Yes vote moves us to fairer, safer, more compassionate healthcare in Ireland. It’s our responsibility to put the hand out to our women. #men4yes

— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) April 24, 2018

So glad to see #men4yes emerge. I’m voting yes because, as a man, there is no medical procedure unavailable to me to protect my life or my health. I want the same for women.#TáDoMhná

— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) April 24, 2018

Men For Repeal, along with Lads For Choice, have thrust the conversation of male engagement directly into the national discussion with Together For Yes, the campaign in favour of repeal. Through the #menforyes hashtag, men online have told their uniquely positioned and shared stories of loss, shame, and state-sanctioned oppression. One such story, which was posted by Men For Repeal’s Facebook page earlier this month, attributed to a man named Enda, illustrates the culture of shame embedded in Irish society.

Enda’s mother – empowered by his coming-out as gay – confided in him that she had an abortion pre-marriage, but for fear of judgement, had told just Enda and one of her sisters. “She’d felt sure that my grandfather would disown her for having sex outside of marriage and he died never knowing,” Enda writes. “I remember her saying she felt as if she was damaged goods with my own father, and had been terrified of telling him in case he no longer wanted to marry her.”

Elsewhere, Murphy alludes to meme culture (check the Ireland Simpsons Fans page for some of the best) and the use of internet spaces as a shareable access point for men, more so for those that are tentative or unsure about their place in a large, fast-moving campaign. Murphy’s resourcefulness also helped him develop a video series where male musicians cover female artists.

via Ireland Simpsons Fans

Creativity in the arts has propelled much of Ireland’s political movements, and the Repeal Project is a major example. The monochromatic sweatshirt – simple, inclusive, and unisex – is boldly inscribed with ‘Repeal’, now iconic in Irish millennial culture as a statement of aesthetic defiance. Repeal founder Anna Cosgrave recently guest edited local music and culture magazine District with the ‘Men’s Issue’ of its Dublin City Guide. The issue profiles male Irish allies across sport, music, film, and politics. Dance music magazine and online community Four Four has been passionately supportive of repealing the 8th on its pages.

Dublin’s vibrant young music scene sees lyrics that continue to reflect Ireland’s bewildering reality, from DIY punk to burgeoning R&B. Rising Dublin hip-hop act, KOJAQUE, recently rapped: “Sovereign state; they’d rather see my mother bleed out than build a clinic.” Elsewhere in the fashion world, designer Richard Malone has been an outspoken supporter for repeal, taking over Selfridges’ window display to write messages of support. In a powerful open letter for Vogue, Malone describes the “infuriating and unjust treatment of women” he has witnessed at home, the misinformed, Catholic-based education about sex and abortion he and his generation received, and the social and class structures that hinder women’s right to choose. “We have to use our vote to speak for ourselves and for the generation of young people coming directly behind us,” he writes, “who remain voiceless in the votes on their future.”

Toxic masculinity is seriously affecting Irish young men’s mental health, sexuality, and attitudes towards sex, the latter manifesting itself in one of the most widely reported and divisive public trials in Irish history: the rape case involving Ulster Rugby stars Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

The voice of brusque social sensibility in Ireland today, Blindboy Boatclub of Irish comedy duo Rubberbandits is in equal parts an absurdist and a realist. He’s become an unofficial spokesperson for these disenfranchised young men, men who accounted for 80 per cent of Irish suicides last year. With one of the highest percentages of teen suicide in Europe, a silent epidemic pulses through Irish society.

During a revealing 2016 interview on Ireland’s The Late Late Show, Blindboy asserted that feminism is, in fact, a remedy for male-centric mental health issues and toxic masculinity, something that rings through with this referendum and long afterwards. “I have nothing to offer a woman, I have nothing,” he says of young men’s attitudes in Limerick, his native city. “How am I supposed to provide for a woman? The fact of the matter, is that that is a patriarchal attitude that is no longer relevant to us in the 21st century.” Blindboy has become a pivotal voice in the movement; utilising social media and his increasingly popular podcast to speak to men directly. His recent book, The Gospel According to Blindboy, delves deeply into such issues – he’s a leader, and a cultural reckoning force behind the pro-choice movement.

In a more recent filmed conversation with Cillian Murphy, Blindboy and the actor rallied for men to excercise their right to vote. “Men and women are both custodians of this society…we need to go out and support women,” Cillian Murphy said.

For too long, Irish women have been defined by their struggle. Those single mothers, those women who claim asylum under Ireland’s dehumanizing Direct Provision system, women of disparate colours and backgrounds, those with varying sexual identities and disabilities: it’s a vote for all women, and now isn’t a time that men can be complacent or indifferent. May 25 gifts Irish citizens – men equally – the opportunity to right one of our nation’s great wrongs. Though cis men will never know what it is like to carry a pregnancy, men are inextricably linked to this upcoming referendum. Men have a duty to engage with, support, and amplify female voices and stories so that an experience like Savita and Praveen’s is never relived again.

, http://www.dazeddigital.com/politics/article/40058/1/why-mens-voices-are-vital-in-irelands-abortion-referendum