A leaflet distributed in Dublin last month has claimed that gay people have a life expectancy of 60 because they “contract cancers earlier in life”.

The leaflet was circulated to urge people to vote no in the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage, which is scheduled for May 22. This is the latest in a series of disturbing leaflets being distributed at events aimed at preventing a “Yes” vote for marriage equality.

It was reportedly handed to a her.ie reporter by “a representative from the Alliance for the Defence of the Family and Marriage (ADFAM)“ during the Divine Mercy Apostolate Conference at the Royal Dublin Society.

The leaflet suggested that voting yes will do “homosexual sexual persons no favours”.

“They will still contract cancers earlier in life. The average life expectancy in same-sex relationships is 60 years. Statistically they are, more than average, subject to alcoholism, illegal drug abuse, depression, and suicide”.

“Only a minority will want to adopt children anyway, but children who are adopted other than by man + woman couples are subject to 8 times more harm, and are 50 times more likely to die of injuries inflicted on them.

Today, in response to the release of the deluge of homophobic leaflets targeting people across Ireland, a paper company have announced they will be re-purposing anti-gay campaign materials as confetti for same-sex weddings.

Daintree Paper in Dublin have requested that any offensive anti-gay literature be sent to their office. Their advert states “We believe in making beautiful things out of paper. So when paper was used to print some ugly lies in the run up to the marriage equality referendum, we wanted to do something about it. We want to collect any negative and dishonest fliers, leaflets and online literature – and recycle them into something positive, with all proceeds going to Yes Equality. Whenever ugly lies are printed… we’ll make beautiful confetti.”