Morrissey has offered a message of support to Ireland, praising them for their decision to allow gay marriage – but at the same time attacking the country’s policies regarding their treatment of animals.
On 22 May, Ireland emphatically backed the right for gay people to marry, with only one of 43 constituencies across the country not voting in favour. Writing from Australia, where he is about to begin a four-night residency at Sydney Opera House, Morrissey gave his reaction to the decision:
Congratulations to Ireland
The people, once again, teach the church. The people, once again, teach the politicians.
Now, Ireland, please abolish fur farms and factory-farming and transportation of live animals, and welcome yourself completely into the 21st century.
Morrissey has previously stated that he has had a relationship with a man, writing in his autobiography that when he met Jake Owen Walters, “for the first time in my life the eternal ‘I’ becomes ‘we’.” After its publication, he emphatically told the world: “Unfortunately, I am not homosexual. In technical fact, I am humasexual. I am attracted to humans. But, of course, not many.”
He has also been a vocal proponent of animal rights for many years. He has said he sees no difference between meat-eaters and paedophiles; he walked off stage at the Coachella festival because he could smell meat being cooked; and he has targeted the likes of Kate Middleton and Beyoncé for their tastes in food and clothing. Most recently he attacked Al Gore and the Live Earth event for serving meat, writing: “Serving meat and dairy products at an event to combat climate change is like selling pistols at a gun-control rally.”
Last year he revealed he had undergone a series of treatments for cancer, writing: “If I die, then I die … I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
