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02/11/2015
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.
This is the fifth time that issue has been considered by the Assembly.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same sex couples cannot marry.
Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane said: "It is hugely important that more than half the Assembly has voted in favour of marriage equality.
"This signals a major shift in society with more and more people supporting marriage equality for our LGBT community.
"It vindicates our position to bring this motion forward for the fifth time and we will continue to push on until equality becomes law.
"It is also encouraging that growing numbers of unionists are now supporting marriage equality.
"It is disappointing there are still those who oppose equality and used a petition of concern to block this motion.
"Marriage equality needs to happen right across the island. We cannot have a situation where we continue to have inequality against members of the LGBT community."
(CD/MH)
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.
This is the fifth time that issue has been considered by the Assembly.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same sex couples cannot marry.
Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane said: "It is hugely important that more than half the Assembly has voted in favour of marriage equality.
"This signals a major shift in society with more and more people supporting marriage equality for our LGBT community.
"It vindicates our position to bring this motion forward for the fifth time and we will continue to push on until equality becomes law.
"It is also encouraging that growing numbers of unionists are now supporting marriage equality.
"It is disappointing there are still those who oppose equality and used a petition of concern to block this motion.
"Marriage equality needs to happen right across the island. We cannot have a situation where we continue to have inequality against members of the LGBT community."
(CD/MH)
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