NI Assembly Rejects Motion For Same-Sex Marriage

The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a motion for same-sex marriage for the fourth time.

The motion, proposed by Sinn Féin, failed with 47 in favour and 49 against.

DUP Chief Whip Peter Weir said our marriage law recognises the unique relationship between a man and a woman just as the law on civil partnerships recognises the unique relationship between two people of the same sex.

He said: "For some of those parties who position themselves as the champions of same-sex marriage, the debate simply highlighted their own internal difficulties. There is always a question as to whether we should be concerned for the wellbeing of several SDLP MLAs who just happen to go missing when such a debate is taking place. Similarly, despite the supposed fulsome support of the Alliance Party, three of the MLAs today could not bring themselves to vote in support."

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Programme Director, said: "Politicians in Northern Ireland who block civil marriage rights for same-sex couples are like latter-day King Canutes, trying in vain to hold back the tide of equality. 

"Public opinion in Northern Ireland is now firmly on the side of legalisation of civil marriage for same-sex couples by a ratio of two-to-one. Yet, half of our politicians continue to oppose this equality measure, leaving Northern Ireland as a grim, discriminatory backwater for the gay community. 

"States may not discriminate with regards to the right to marry and found a family, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This means that marriage should be available to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland, just as it is now in England, Scotland and Wales and may soon be in the Republic of Ireland, following next month’s referendum."