20/05/2019
Thousands Rally For Equal Marriage
Thousands of people have marched through Belfast to demand recognition of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
The Love Equality march took off from Writer's Square in the city centre on Saturday 18 May, with participants demanding that any re-established Stormont government delivers marriage equality legislation and brings the region into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.
In the continued absence of devolved government, campaigners want the UK to legislate and "end discrimination against same-sex couples", according to the movement which is led by the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-Friend, NUS-USI and HereNI.
Sara Canning, the partner of murdered journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead in L'Derry last month, was among those leading the march. She called on Prime Minister Theresa May to legislate on the issue, after losing the woman she planned to marry.
Ahead of Saturday's event, Ms Canning said: "Lyra and I wanted to get married, surrounded by our families and friends, because we shared a love which meant we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. But, as things stand, the law in Northern Ireland says that the love that Lyra and I shared is not equal.
"It is unbelievable, and simply unacceptable, that in 2019, this discrimination is allowed to continue in any part of the UK or Ireland.
"With Stormont out of action for almost the last two and a half years, we need the UK Government to step in.
"That's what I told Theresa May at Lyra's funeral and that's what I will be saying at the march for marriage equality in Belfast. I hope the Prime Minister is listening. Couples like Lyra and I should not have to wait a day longer for the law to recognise us as equals."
Party leaders and representatives of Sinn Fein, the Green Party, SDLP and Alliance Party also joined the march for change.
(JG/CM)
The Love Equality march took off from Writer's Square in the city centre on Saturday 18 May, with participants demanding that any re-established Stormont government delivers marriage equality legislation and brings the region into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.
In the continued absence of devolved government, campaigners want the UK to legislate and "end discrimination against same-sex couples", according to the movement which is led by the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-Friend, NUS-USI and HereNI.
Sara Canning, the partner of murdered journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead in L'Derry last month, was among those leading the march. She called on Prime Minister Theresa May to legislate on the issue, after losing the woman she planned to marry.
Ahead of Saturday's event, Ms Canning said: "Lyra and I wanted to get married, surrounded by our families and friends, because we shared a love which meant we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. But, as things stand, the law in Northern Ireland says that the love that Lyra and I shared is not equal.
"It is unbelievable, and simply unacceptable, that in 2019, this discrimination is allowed to continue in any part of the UK or Ireland.
"With Stormont out of action for almost the last two and a half years, we need the UK Government to step in.
"That's what I told Theresa May at Lyra's funeral and that's what I will be saying at the march for marriage equality in Belfast. I hope the Prime Minister is listening. Couples like Lyra and I should not have to wait a day longer for the law to recognise us as equals."
Party leaders and representatives of Sinn Fein, the Green Party, SDLP and Alliance Party also joined the march for change.
(JG/CM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 March 2017
Same-Sex Marriage Must Be A 'Litmus Test' For New Executive
Campaigners have said a commitment to deliver same-sex marriage must be a litmus test for any new Northern Ireland government. The campaigners, from the Love Equality coalition, said they believed there was now a clear majority of MLAs in the newly-elected Assembly in favour of equal marriage.
Same-Sex Marriage Must Be A 'Litmus Test' For New Executive
Campaigners have said a commitment to deliver same-sex marriage must be a litmus test for any new Northern Ireland government. The campaigners, from the Love Equality coalition, said they believed there was now a clear majority of MLAs in the newly-elected Assembly in favour of equal marriage.
23 September 2016
Call For NI To Legalise Equal Marriage
Northern Ireland needs to legalise equal marriage as soon as possible, according to the Alliance Party. The party made the call after the government of Guernsey recognised the rights of all citizens to be married.
Call For NI To Legalise Equal Marriage
Northern Ireland needs to legalise equal marriage as soon as possible, according to the Alliance Party. The party made the call after the government of Guernsey recognised the rights of all citizens to be married.
09 July 2019
MPs Set To Vote On Same-Sex Marriage
MPs in Westminster are set to vote this afternoon, 09 July, on whether or not to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. A debate on the matter came about as a bill to keep the region running in the absence of Stormont's devolved government advances through Parliament.
MPs Set To Vote On Same-Sex Marriage
MPs in Westminster are set to vote this afternoon, 09 July, on whether or not to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. A debate on the matter came about as a bill to keep the region running in the absence of Stormont's devolved government advances through Parliament.
29 March 2018
Bill For Same-Sex Marriage In NI Passes First Stage
A bill for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland has passed the first stage. Labour MP Conor McGinn, originally from Armagh, raised the private member's bill at the House of Commons and he later joined campaigners who were delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street.
Bill For Same-Sex Marriage In NI Passes First Stage
A bill for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland has passed the first stage. Labour MP Conor McGinn, originally from Armagh, raised the private member's bill at the House of Commons and he later joined campaigners who were delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street.
20 February 2018
NI Same-Sex Marriage Could Be Passed At Westminster - Karen Bradley
Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said if same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland was to be raised at Westminster it is the government's policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience. She was replying to a question from Labour MP Conor McGinn who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage in the region.
NI Same-Sex Marriage Could Be Passed At Westminster - Karen Bradley
Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said if same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland was to be raised at Westminster it is the government's policy to allow a free vote on matters of conscience. She was replying to a question from Labour MP Conor McGinn who asked if she would bring forward legislative proposals on equal marriage in the region.