People power: The parade of thousands streamed into the front of the Belfast City Hall to listen to the speakers calling for equal marriage rights for the LGBT community.[/caption]
Alliance councillor Patrick Brown has tabled a motion for July’s Newry Mourne and Down District Council meeting that, if passed, would see the new supercouncil call upon the Northern Ireland Executive to introduce legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry.
The motion, seconded by Independent Newry councillor Kevin McAteer, follows the landmark ‘yes’ vote which legalised same-sex marriage by referendum in the South of Ireland. It also follows a successful Alliance Party motion at Belfast City Council endorsing same-sex marriage.
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Newry Mourne and Down District Councillors Kevin McAteer (Independent) and Patrick Brown (Alliance) with David Lee and Peter Surginor, centre, at the Belfast rally for equal marriage rights for the LGBT community.[/caption]
Councillor Brown, who attended the Belfast equal marriage rally last Saturday, said: “On Friday 22 May 2015, Ireland made history as the first country ever to legalise same-sex marriage through public referendum. This is yet another step in the right direction for what has become the defining civil rights issue of our time.
“However, this referendum leaves Northern Ireland languishing in the past yet again. In Europe, same-sex marriage is now legal in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden – as well as Scotland, England and Wales inside the United Kingdom.
“Renowned rights activist Peter Tatchell has even branded Northern Ireland the ‘most homophobic place in Western Europe’. This is unsurprising given the DUP-led efforts of Stormont to block same-sex marriage on numerous occasions. It is about time local councils stepped forward to rally public opinion around this vital issue’.”
The wording of Patrick Brown’s motion to Council tabled for 6 July, reads:
“That this Council believes that all couples in Newry, Mourne and Down, and across Northern Ireland, regardless of sexual orientation, should have the right to a civil marriage; that the rights of religious institutions to define, observe and practice marriage within their beliefs should be given legal protection; that faith groups which wish to marry same sex couples should not be prevented by the state from doing so; that all married couples of the same sex should have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to introduce legislation to extend civil marriage provisions to same sex couples.”
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Councillor Patrick Brown marching in the Alliance Party group is pictured with DEL Minister Stephen Farry in Royal Avenue.[/caption]
Councillor Brown, who attended the equal marriage rally in Belfast with members of the Alliance Party, a rally organised by the ICTU, Amnesty International and the Rainbow Coalition, said he believes this motion presents the new Council with an opportunity to lead progressive change in Northern Ireland. He said: “Adults in a loving relationship should have full access to the institution of marriage. Anything else is discrimination, and I want to live in a shared Northern Ireland led by principles of tolerance and respect.
“The failure of Stormont to deliver leadership on this issue means that the eleven new super councils have both an opportunity and a duty to champion equal civil marriage at the local level”.
Councillor Kevin McAteer, who will second Cllr Brown’s motion, also speaking at the rally in Belfast last Saturday, said that he was very impressed at the thousands who had turned up to support equal marriage rightsand added: “I hope this level of support continues to grow for this cause and that it reaches the Councils and the Assembly.
“I am looking forward to debating this issue in the chamber of Newry Mourne and Down District Council on the 6 July.”
Northern Ireland must not be left out in the cold on marriage equality
The NUS-USI LGBT group was one of the many groups who supported the rally and officer Colin Chan said Northern Ireland must follow the lead of Ireland and Britain and deliver marriage equality. He said that failure to create measures to implement marriage equality urgently could potentially damage Northern Ireland’s chances of attracting jobs and companies to invest and do business here. The NUS-USI student movement took part in the marriage equality rally which started from College Gardens near the Art Centre along Royal Avenue to the City Hall.
Colin Chan said: “Northern Ireland must not leave itself out in the cold on marriage equality. I am proud that NUS-USI will be taking part in the marriage equality rally taking place in Belfast, and I am also pleased that our work alongside the Union of Students in Ireland helped in delivering a resounding yes to marriage equality in the referendum a few weeks ago.
“I fear that Northern Ireland’s failure to deliver marriage equality could damage the potential for attracting jobs and investment here. We need equality for all now, because companies who cannot be assured that all of their employees will receive equality living here, may not want to invest or create jobs here.
“Northern Ireland must follow the lead given by Britain and Ireland and implement measures to enable marriage equality.”
NUS-USI President Rebecca Hall added: “What is it going to take for those who block progress and block marriage equality here to change their minds? Do they not realise or care how their actions damage Northern Ireland’s reputation globally?
“This rally will further demonstrate the massive groundswell of support across the community for equality. Politicians would do well to listen to the mood of the public, because there will only ever be one result, and they must not find themselves trapped on the wrong side of history. We will achieve marriage equality through the courts, if politicians here do not deliver it as a matter of urgency.”
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