Stormont rejects same-sex marriage proposal

A proposal to have gay marriage legalised in the North has been rejected today.

A proposal to have same-sex marriage legalised in the North has been rejected today.

It is the fourth time the divisive issue has been defeated at the Stormont Assembly and comes hours after under-pressure DUP health minister Jim Wells

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MLAs were split 47-47 on a motion from Sinn Féin calling for civil marriage rights for same-sex couples.

But the motion was rejected after Unionists lodged a so-called "petition of concern", meaning the motion was blocked because a majority of unionists opposed it.

DUP Assembly member Peter Weir said his party opposed same sex marriages.

“This is not a serious debate. Clearly this motion is an attack on the symbolism of marriage and the institution of marriage and an attempt to redefine marriage.

“My party believes, and I believe also, that marriage is between one man and one woman and once you redefine that you lose the essence of marriage itself.”

Sinn Féin's South Down MLA Catriona Ruane said they wanted to “drown out the bile” put forward by opponents of equal marriage.

She said: “Together we will build a society that includes and embraces.”

Meanwhile, the SDLP’s Colm Eastwood said: “We need to be seen to be embracing all members of our community.

“There is no reason why the north of Ireland should be the only place on these islands that doesn’t have marriage available to same sex couples.”