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The Story of Yes

"There were so many special moments": This is the story of how Ireland voted Yes

A documentary will air on RTÉ 2 tonight.

RTÉ2 / YouTube

ONE YEAR AGO today, it became official – Ireland had voted to legalise same-sex marriage.

Tonight at 9pm, a documentary will air on RTÉ 2 which will tell the story of how we got there.

The Story of Yes is told through the eyes of those who it mattered to most – the LGBT community and their families.

Producer Zlata Filipovic, who worked alongside Anna Rodgers, told TheJournal.ie that the documentary is “emotional”.

“I think it will be emotional for a lot of people.

There were so many special personal moments, there’s obviously a larger story in the LGBT campaigns in Ireland over the last 30 or so years, but people put their personal lives into the public realm to tell their story.

“People choose to connect with the personal and people are the heart of it. The flesh on each story is where our natural capacity for compassion goes.”

Director Hugh Rodgers agrees.

What it’s about is a celebration of the result. We couldn’t do that without telling the story of the campaign.

“It was more than just the official campaign, it was about people who voted. People having conversations at home, with their families, with their parents.

“Other referendums you just go in and vote and it has never felt as important as this.

“This was all about personal lives. Home to Vote was probably the most magical thing that has happened.”

Ireland Gay Marriage AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

With the documentary completed on a quick turnaround it hasn’t been shown to many people, but Filipovic and Rodgers both hope the reaction will be positive.

“I think people will enjoy it, it’s powerful and emotional,” says Filipovic.

“It’s such a big story,” adds Rodgers.

“I hope the reaction is good. It’s a positive documentary and it’s quite emotional.

“It captures the spirit of it.”

The Story of Yes airs tonight at 9pm on RTÉ 2

Read: Huge rise in young people coming out as gay since marriage referendum

Read: The day that Ireland changed forever

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