Support Mounts for Ireland’s Gay Presidential Candidate

If all goes well for Sen. David Norris, Ireland will elect its first gay president in November.

Since announcing his bid in January, the gay activist has received a great deal of support from his fellow Irish, including almost 20,000 Facebook followers.

Senator Norris says he is overwhelmed by the response to his candidacy. "I have so gloriously come in from the margins and I think we've learnt to accept and celebrate diversity," he said Monday night at a public meeting.

"I was in Portlaoise on St. Patrick's Day, I was the grand marshal, and rural Ireland is supposed to be conservative and they're supposed to not want to have anything to do with me, but my country people in Laois took me to their hearts."

Norris, who is running as an independent, is a favorite to win the election, according to Paddy Power, Ireland's largest bookmaker.

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