Menu
30/04/2014
Gay Marriage Defeated
A proposal to introduce same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland has been rejected by MLAs at Stormont.
The Sinn Féin motion to introduce gay marriage in Northern Ireland, while also allowing religious institutions the freedom to opt out of same-sex marriage ceremonies, was defeated with 51 voting 'yes' and 40 voting against.
The motion marks the third time the issue has been raised and defeated over the past 18 months at Stormont. Once again, the DUP tabled a petition of concern, ensuring the motion would need support from a majority of both unionists and nationalists.
All nationalist parties voted in favour of the motion, while most unionists rejected it. The Alliance Party voted mostly in favour, with MLAs Judith Cochrane and Trevor Lunn opposing.
Basil McCrea's NI21 party voted in favour, as did Green Party leader Steven Agnew.
The defeat of the motion means Northern Ireland is still the only region of the UK not to introduce marriage equality in legislation.
The first gay marriages in the UK took place in England and Wales in March. In Scotland a similar law was introduced in February, with the first marriages expected in October.
Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane said: "Sinn Féin advocates the right to social, economic, gender and cultural equality. This encompasses equality for all, irrespective of race, age, marital or family status, sexual orientation, physical or mental capacities, ethnicity, social origin, political or religious affiliations.
"Republicans are only too aware of what it means to be treated as second class citizens. Our politics are the result of decades of resistance to marginalisation and discrimination.
"In the past the North was synonymous with the never, never brigade embodied by the DUP. The DUP were against the decriminalisation of homosexuality, they were against civil partnership and now are against marriage equality, against gay people adopting and against people from the gay community donating blood."
"This debate and the two other debates we had in this Assembly during this term are not a waste of time or money. Equality is a matter of public interest."
(IT)
The Sinn Féin motion to introduce gay marriage in Northern Ireland, while also allowing religious institutions the freedom to opt out of same-sex marriage ceremonies, was defeated with 51 voting 'yes' and 40 voting against.
The motion marks the third time the issue has been raised and defeated over the past 18 months at Stormont. Once again, the DUP tabled a petition of concern, ensuring the motion would need support from a majority of both unionists and nationalists.
All nationalist parties voted in favour of the motion, while most unionists rejected it. The Alliance Party voted mostly in favour, with MLAs Judith Cochrane and Trevor Lunn opposing.
Basil McCrea's NI21 party voted in favour, as did Green Party leader Steven Agnew.
The defeat of the motion means Northern Ireland is still the only region of the UK not to introduce marriage equality in legislation.
The first gay marriages in the UK took place in England and Wales in March. In Scotland a similar law was introduced in February, with the first marriages expected in October.
Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane said: "Sinn Féin advocates the right to social, economic, gender and cultural equality. This encompasses equality for all, irrespective of race, age, marital or family status, sexual orientation, physical or mental capacities, ethnicity, social origin, political or religious affiliations.
"Republicans are only too aware of what it means to be treated as second class citizens. Our politics are the result of decades of resistance to marginalisation and discrimination.
"In the past the North was synonymous with the never, never brigade embodied by the DUP. The DUP were against the decriminalisation of homosexuality, they were against civil partnership and now are against marriage equality, against gay people adopting and against people from the gay community donating blood."
"This debate and the two other debates we had in this Assembly during this term are not a waste of time or money. Equality is a matter of public interest."
(IT)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 May 2015
Call For Marriage Referendum To Be Extended Into NI
Sinn Féin said the result of the marriage referendum represents the lifting of discrimination against the gay community in the rest of the island of Ireland. Daithí McKay MLA is also calling for the same rights to be extended to Northern Ireland.
Call For Marriage Referendum To Be Extended Into NI
Sinn Féin said the result of the marriage referendum represents the lifting of discrimination against the gay community in the rest of the island of Ireland. Daithí McKay MLA is also calling for the same rights to be extended to Northern Ireland.
02 November 2015
Majority Of MLAs Favour Same Sex Marriage
A majority of MLAs have voted in favour of legalising same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, however the DUP has lodged a petition of concern ahead of the vote. This means that while the majority favoured same sex marriage the motion was lost. 53 MLAs voted in favour and 51 voted against. Another politician abstained from the vote.
Majority Of MLAs Favour Same Sex Marriage
A majority of MLAs have voted in favour of legalising same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, however the DUP has lodged a petition of concern ahead of the vote. This means that while the majority favoured same sex marriage the motion was lost. 53 MLAs voted in favour and 51 voted against. Another politician abstained from the vote.
28 April 2014
Calls To Reject Gay Marriage Repeated
A number of Northern Ireland's Catholic bishops have called on the Northern Ireland Assembly to reject same-sex marriage. In an open letter, the bishops say it is "inappropriate" to apply the principle of equality to "two fundamentally different types of relationship".
Calls To Reject Gay Marriage Repeated
A number of Northern Ireland's Catholic bishops have called on the Northern Ireland Assembly to reject same-sex marriage. In an open letter, the bishops say it is "inappropriate" to apply the principle of equality to "two fundamentally different types of relationship".
26 April 2013
DUP Table Petition Of Concern On Same Sex Marriage Motion
DUP Chief Whip Peter Weir has confirmed the Party has tabled a Petition of Concern on the same sex marriage motion, which has been tabled by Sinn Fein for debate in the Assembly next week. The Chief Whip said: "It is only a few months since the Assembly last debated this issue and views were clearly expressed at that time.
DUP Table Petition Of Concern On Same Sex Marriage Motion
DUP Chief Whip Peter Weir has confirmed the Party has tabled a Petition of Concern on the same sex marriage motion, which has been tabled by Sinn Fein for debate in the Assembly next week. The Chief Whip said: "It is only a few months since the Assembly last debated this issue and views were clearly expressed at that time.
30 April 2013
Gay Marriage Motion Defeated
A Sinn Féin motion to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland has been defeated. Bronwyn McGahan had proposed the motion, but it was defeated in the Assembly by 53 votes to 42. 50 unionist MLAs and three members of the Alliance voted against, while all 37 nationalists and three unionists voted in favour.
Gay Marriage Motion Defeated
A Sinn Féin motion to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland has been defeated. Bronwyn McGahan had proposed the motion, but it was defeated in the Assembly by 53 votes to 42. 50 unionist MLAs and three members of the Alliance voted against, while all 37 nationalists and three unionists voted in favour.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
