Thousands Set To March In Belfast For Marriage Equality

Campaigners in Northern Ireland are planning a major march and rally for marriage equality in Belfast next week, Saturday 18 May, as political talks aimed at restoring devolved government continue.

The Love Equality campaign comes in the wake of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee by dissident republicans in L'Derry last month. Lyra's partner, Sara Canning, plans to address the rally after revealing that she told Prime Minister Theresa May to legislate for marriage equality.

Organisers of the march are demanding that any re-established government at Stormont would deliver marriage equality legislation and bring the region in line with the rest of the UK and Ireland. Failing that, they want politicians in Westminster to intervene and end discrimination against same-sex couples in Northern Ireland.

Ahead of the event, Ms Canning said: "Marriage equality is a cause to which Lyra and I were very committed. Lyra and I were supposed to be on a big trip to New York this week. We were going to get engaged.

"We talked about getting married in Donegal, but really we wanted our love and our marriage to be recognised in Northern Ireland, just the same as the rest of our family members and friends. But to date, politicians have stopped that happening here, despite the fact that most people support equal marriage. If the politicians won't legislate for equal marriage at Stormont, then the Prime Minister should do it at Westminster. That's what I told Theresa May at Lyra's funeral. I wanted her to know that Lyra and I had a right to be treated as equal citizens in our own country. Surely that's not too much to ask?

"Myself and lots of Lyra's friends and family are going to be marching for marriage equality. We hope people will join us."

Organisers say they expect thousands to join the march, which will gather in Belfast's Writers' Square at 1pm.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International and a member of the Love Equality campaign for equal marriage, said: "It is time for political leaders in Belfast and London to respect the will of the people of Northern Ireland, which is overwhelmingly in support of marriage equality. This march will be a demonstration of that support, a demand which must be heard in the corridors of Stormont and Westminster. Marriage equality in Northern Ireland is a litmus test for whether or not any future devolved government is committed to treating all citizens equally.

"If Stormont is incapable of delivering equality for people here, then it is the responsibility of the Westminster to end discrimination against the LGBT community."

Love Equality's campaign for equal civil marriage in Northern Ireland is led by the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-Friend, NUS-USI and HereNI.

The region is the only part of the UK or Ireland which still bans marriage for same-sex couples, despite majority support among the public and in the Northern Ireland Assembly. In November 2015, a majority of MLAs in the Assembly voted to support equal marriage, but the measure was blocked by the DUP using a Petition of Concern, a voting mechanism designed to protect the rights of minorities in Northern Ireland.

In April 2018 a Sky News poll showed 76% support for marriage equality amongst the Northern Ireland public.

At least 55 out of 90 MLAs in the Assembly have publicly voiced their support for marriage equality legislation.

The march will leave Writers' Square next Saturday at around 1.45pm, with speeches commencing onstage in front of Belfast City Hall at approximately 2.15pm



(JG/CM)