18/04/2016

Sinn Féin Cllr To Become First Openly Gay Deputy Mayor

A Sinn Féin councillor is to become Belfast's first openly gay Deputy Mayor.

The party selected north Belfast councillor Mary Ellen Campbell and she said it is another step forward for the rights of the LGBT community and for equality in Belfast.

She said: "I look forward to representing all the citizens of Belfast in the role of Deputy Mayor regardless of creed, class, gender or ethnicity and discharging my duties in the most inclusive and equal basis possible.

"As a lifelong equality campaigner I know only too well that many within our communities right across the city live daily with discrimination, hate crime and exclusion. I will continue to do all I can to challenge that.

"Inclusion will be one of the themes of my term in office as it’s vital to promote positive messages and demonstrate public commitment to equality.

"I'm a woman, I'm openly gay, I’m a Republican Ex-prisoner and I’m from a working-class community in North Belfast. So I would say I have some experience of the challenges that many marginalised citizens face in Belfast."

(CD/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2003
Equality Commission back joint 'women’s manifesto'
Launched this week in the run up to the Assembly election a women’s manifesto has set out a number of demands in key equality areas that women want the new Assembly to tackle.
01 June 2018
DUP-Led Dept 'Failed To Comply' With Equality Rules
The Department for Communities "failed to comply" with equality rules in its decision to cut funding for an Irish language scheme, an investigation by the Equality Commission (EC) has found.
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.
22 January 2013
Heavy Snow Closes Over 80 Schools
Over 80 schools across Northern Ireland have been closed as the heavy snow continues to cause disruption on Tuesday morning. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, as the snow is continuing to affect many roads. Areas which have been majorly disrupted include Lisburn, Castlereagh and Carryduff.
21 October 2024
Belfast Named Most Sustainable Visitor Destination In UK And Ireland
Belfast has been recognised as the most sustainable visitor destination in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 2024 GDS-Index. The city ranked alongside global cities such as Sydney, Singapore, Oslo, and Copenhagen in the Top 10.