The Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons, 71, is the president of the jury for this year's Berlin Festival, which began its activities this Thursday (20) in the German capital.
At the press conference, the Englishman decided to clarify his views on the political issues of gay marriage and women's right to abortion. In the past, Irons has made negative comments about both issues, and since he was announced as president of the Berlinale jury, the German press has been rehashing these stories.
The actor stated that he does not want this to be a “distraction” from the festival and took the opportunity to take a stand.
“First and foremost, I fully support the global movement against gender inequality and the protection of women from abusive, harmful and disrespectful harassment, both at home and in the workplace,” she said.
“Second, I support same-sex marriage legislation wherever it has been passed, and I hope these laws can expand to more and more societies. And third, I fully support a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.”
The actor said that these three human rights are “essential” for us to live in a “civilized and humane society”, which “we should all continue to seek”.
“There are several parts of the world where these rights still do not exist”, he lamented.
In 2013, in an interview with HuffPost, Irons hinted that gay marriage could allow a union between parents and children just so the father doesn't have to pay taxes when passing the inheritance to his son.
Regarding women, in 2009, he signed a petition in favor of filmmaker Roman Polanski when he was arrested in Switzerland due to the accusation of raping a minor made against him in 1977.
In 2016, he stated that the Catholic Church is “correct” when it stands against the termination of unwanted pregnancies.
