BELFAST: 20,000 March For Marriage

An estimated crowd of 20,000 marched on Belfast City Hall today to demand same-sex marriage. Via the Guardian:

Northern Ireland has been left behind in the struggle for gay equality, the Irish trade union movement said on Saturday, as thousands marched in Belfast to call for the recognition of same-sex marriage. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) pointed out that the province once led the way in terms of rights for same-sex partners. “In 2005, history was made when Northern Ireland became the first place in the UK to hold a civil partnership. Ten years later, with every other part of these islands recognising marriage equality, citizens in Northern Ireland have effectively been left behind,” the ICTU said. The demonstration through central Belfast to city hall was part of a campaign by local gay rights organisations and human rights groups for the province’s law to be changed. Among those marching was Snow Patrol’s lead singer, Gary Lightbody. Amnesty International said the region was now the “last bastion of discrimination against gay people in these islands”.

More from the Independent:

The crowd, organised by Amnesty International, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Rainbow Project, said they want parity with the rest of the UK and Ireland in permitting civil marriage for gay couples. Addressing the rally, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland programme director, said: "Isn't this the most beautiful march and rally Belfast has ever seen? A march about love. "We are all here today because of a simple idea: all people are equal. The state should treat all people equally." The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected a proposal calling for the introduction of gay marriage after debating the issue for a fourth time. Sinn Fein said equality rights for same-sex couples must be shared by citizens in the north and it will continue to campaign for the reform. Other high profile supporters of the campaign include singer Brian Kennedy and Olympic boxer Paddy Barnes. Singer Bronagh Gallagher, supported by Quire, Belfast's LGBT choir, performed at the Belfast City Hall rally, which followed the march from the Ulster University on York Street.

Huge Sinn Féin turnout at the #MarriageEquality rally in Belfast. pic.twitter.com/K7Mk6vfck9

— Sinn Féin LGBT (@sinnfeinlgbt) June 13, 2015

Belfast City Council: Yes To Marriage

Via the BBC:

Belfast City Council has voted in favour of same-sex marriage at a meeting on Monday. A total of 38 councillors voted for, 13 voted against and there were two abstentions, so the motion was carried. It had been moved by Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown. Councillors from Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Green Party, PUP, People Before Profit and Alliance spoke in support of the motion. All the Sinn Fein and Alliance councillors voted in favour, all but two of the SDLP councillors joined them, as well as the PUP, Gerry Carroll, People Before Profit Alliance, and the Green Party. All but three Ulster Unionists also voted for the motion. Three UU members voted against and they were joined by all of the DUP councillors. Two SDLP councillors abstained from the vote.

In April the Northern Ireland Assembly narrowly rejected a proposal to introduce a same-sex marriage bill in a 49-47 vote. Same-sex marriage laws went into effect in England and Wales in March 2014 and in Scotland in December 2014.

Last Night At Belfast City Hall

Pink News reports:

The City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was lit up in rainbow colours last night to coincide with the start of Pride, but it will be the only of the UK’s capital cities where same-sex couples will be banned from marrying once the law changes in Westminster and Edinburgh. Last night,the House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, told the audience of Amnesty’s annual Belfast Pride lecture that although Northern Ireland is “considerably behind” when it comes to LGBT rights, “if it’s won through in the rest of the Kingdom it will prevail in Northern Ireland”.