Gay marriage invites for MLAs if they vote ‘yes’
The devolved Assembly will vote on a marriage equality proposal for the fifth time today.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have rejected the introduction of gay marriage on the four previous occasions.
Following the signing into law of same-sex marriage legislation here last week, the North is now the only part of Ireland or the UK where civil marriage is denied to same-sex couples.
Previous votes at Stormont have proved controversial, as unionists opposed to legalisation have used a contentious Assembly mechanism to effectively veto it.
A petition of concern has again been deployed by the Democratic Unionists ahead of Monday’s vote — meaning the proposal is set to be rejected even if a majority of MLAs back it. The mechanism means a proposal can only pass if a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists back it.
Gay marriage divides public opinion in the North, with vocal campaigners on both sides of the argument.
While advocates claim same-sex couples are being denied the rights afforded to heterosexuals, Christian organisations insist the institution of marriage should not be redefined.
Couples Jayne Robinson and Laura McKee and Michael McCartan and Malachai O’Hara plan to attend today’s debate at Stormont dressed in wedding regalia.
Ms Robinson said: “I love Laura and I know she loves me. Just like most other couples in a long-term, committed relationship, we want to get married. At the moment our politicians are stopping us. We want them to take the politics out of our personal lives and give us the same rights as couples in the rest of the UK and Ireland.
“If the politicians pass a marriage equality law for Northern Ireland, we’ll invite them to our wedding.”
Mr O’Hara added: “Michael and I are ready and waiting to be a married couple. We shouldn’t really have to ask the permission of 108 politicians at Stormont to do so.”
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