UK Parliament Passes Marriage Equality In Northern Ireland

Lawmakers in Parliament have voted overwhelmingly to extend same-sex marriage rights to LGBTQ citizens of Northern Ireland.

The vote, by a lopsided margin of 393 to 73, will bring marriage equality to the only part of the UK or Ireland that does not currently recognize same-sex marriage.

The issue has been shelved in Northern Ireland since January 2017, when Stormont - the Northern Ireland Assembly - collapsed. Since that time, the country has basically been run by civil servants.

The proposal was part of a debate meant to keeping Northern Ireland running in the absence of a functioning government.

The marriage amendment, put forward by Labour MP Conor McGinn, requires marriage equality to become the law of the land in Northern Ireland if Stormont is not restored by October 21.

The Guardian reports McGinn addressed the House of Commons saying the chamber had “failed LGBT people in Northern Ireland before” by not extending same-sex marriage rights in a timely manner.

“Tonight, we have the chance to do the right thing,” said McGinn. “People in Northern Ireland, and indeed across Britain and Ireland, are watching. I, for one, am not going to let them down.”

WE DID IT !!!!!

The House of Commons has voted by a massive majority to introduce same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland if the Stormont Executive isn’t restored by 21st October.

Thank you to @Love_EqualityNI & the thousands of people who have campaigned for equal marriage. pic.twitter.com/TDalAw1VIg

— Conor McGinn (@ConorMcGinn) July 9, 2019

A caveat to the clause allows for a future assembly in Northern Ireland to have the power to amend or change the law.

In the meantime, it will be necessary for the Secretary of State in Northern Ireland to prepare for new regulations allowing marriage between same-sex couples.

MPs in Parliament also voted to extend abortion rights to women in the same session.

🌈BREAKING🌈
MPs have voted in favour of equal marriage in Northern Ireland, 383 to 73. Congratulations to everyone who's campaigned tirelessly for #equalmarriage. Same-sex couples in NI will soon be able to enjoy the same rights to marry as the rest of the UK.#EqualityWins pic.twitter.com/OCfj0jDyPG

— LGBT Foundation (@LGBTfdn) July 9, 2019

Am in bits. Northern Ireland will have marriage equality if there is no Executive by 21 October. We’ve waited so long it doesn’t feel real. Thank you @ConorMcGinn! 🏳️‍🌈😭

— Eóin Tennyson (@EoinTennyson) July 9, 2019

(source: The Guardian)

Corporations Ask UK Parliament To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage In Northern Ireland

Several major corporations have signed on to a letter urging the UK Parliament in London to introduce legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

Marriage equality has been the law of the land in England, Scotland and Wales since 2014, and the Republic of Ireland voted for marriage equality via public referendum in 2015.

That leaves Northern Ireland as the only part of Western Europe to not allow LGBT couples to marry. The only legal recognition available for same-sex couples are civil unions thanks to UK-wide legislation passed in 2005.

According to Gay Star News, the Northern Ireland government has been practically non-functional for almost 600 days since rival parties stopped working together.

The list of over two dozen multinational businesses supporting the marriage equality letter to Parliament include Coca-Cola, IBM, Bank of Ireland, Deloitte, Citi Belfast and Pinsent Masons.

The argument for marriage equality isn’t just based on rights and equality, says John O’Doherty, Director of The Rainbow Project and member of the Love Equality consortium.

According to O’Doherty, “There is also an important economic argument for legalizing same-sex marriage.”

“Equality, diversity and inclusion contribute to a happy and productive workforce and can help in attracting global talent to Northern Ireland,” says O’Doherty. “However, without full legal recognition of same-sex marriages retaining and attracting talent can be difficult.”

Petre Sandru, Country Manager for Coca-Cola Ireland, agrees.

“As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, Coca-Cola celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality,” says Sandru. “At Coca-Cola, we know that creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential, regardless of gender age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, ability or socio-economic background, is key to driving businesses forward.”

Corporate support has been shown to be a powerful component in the fight for equal rights.

In 2015, hundreds of major companies signed on to an amicus brief in support of marriage equality as the U.S. Supreme Court weighed the issue.

And in Australia, Coca-Cola, Quantas Airlines and more voiced their support for same-sex marriage as the country readied to vote in a mail-in referendum which eventually led to marriage equality becoming legal ‘down under’ in January of this year.

Everyone deserves love, and every couple should have the right to happiness. That’s why we say YES #marriageequality #cokesign #kingscross pic.twitter.com/8ChTRgTuL0

— Coca-Cola Australia (@CocaColaAU) September 12, 2017

(h/t Gay Star News)

News Round-Up: August 18, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Germany's Olympic javelin team (above) offers us a good reason to talk about the country without having to mention "nazis." Check out this one minute video from the hunky gentlemen from Germany.

• Two lawsuits in Northern Ireland challenging the current ban on marriage equality have been dismissed. The judge in both cases ruled the ban does not violate LGBT couples' rights.

• Apple is donating $2 million to anti-hate groups, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

We’ve seen the terror of white supremacy & racist violence before. It's a moral issue - an affront to America. We must all stand against it

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 14, 2017

• On the same day, both the American Cancer Society and the Cleveland Clinic have canceled their planned gala events at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago venue. A local Chamber of Commerce official told the press, “The glitter, the shine has gone from the club and I can’t help but think there will be more fallout from it.”

• Openly gay former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken laments his past defense of Donald Trump:

Remember all those times I defended @realDonaldTrump and believed he was not actually racist? Well... I am a f*****g dumbass. #imsorry

— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) August 15, 2017

• The Wrap is reporting Glenn Close is in advanced talks to star in a film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard. Close won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in 1994 and recently ended an enormously successful revival run on Broadway.

• Australian song bird Dannii Minogue dropped her new dance tune last week, "Holding On," and the title/lyrics couldn't be more appropriate for the times. Listen below:

Irish Prime Minister At Belfast Pride: Marriage Equality Is "Only A Matter Of Time" In Northern Ireland

Newly-elected Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, told folks attending a Pride Breakfast in Belfast that marriage equality is "only a matter of time" in Northern Ireland.

The Prime Minister, Ireland's first openly gay leader, is taking part in Belfast Pride as "a gesture of solidarity."

While the Republic of Ireland voted to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015, Northern Ireland remains the only place in the UK where a ban on same-sex marriage still exists.

Mr. Varadkar assured crowds in Belfast that he was not "here to unsettle anyone."

"But I am here to state my support and my government's support for equality before the law and individual freedom for all citizens wherever they may reside," he said.

Thrilled to see Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the #BelfastPride march today. Join us for a fairer, more tolerant Northern Ireland 🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/EUakrOrPKQ

— NI Humanists (@NIhumanists) August 5, 2017

Let's hope it's not much longer till we can paint this whole map pink! #BelfastPride pic.twitter.com/hcLkmeFIGT

— LGBT Humanists (@LGBTHumanistsUK) August 5, 2017

Happy #BelfastPride everyone! pic.twitter.com/GjMbaL74BF

— @SouthBelfastSF (@SouthBelfastSF) August 5, 2017

Irish PM at #belfastpride says he's there to express support for equality for all citizens but not seeking to 'unsettle' anyone pic.twitter.com/LlVu1shRrf

— JPCampbellBiz (@JP_Biz) August 5, 2017

Patrick Stewart On Northern Ireland Bakers Who Refuse To Make Cake For Same-Sex Wedding

We're all aware of the issues involving those in the wedding industry who refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings here in the US.

And similar issues have arisen abroad. For instance, in Northern Ireland, Ashers Bakery found itself on the losing end of a lawsuit for refusing to make a cake with the words "support gay marriage" above a picture of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. The incident sparked widespread debate.

Talking on Newsnight last night, Star Trek & X-Men star Patrick Stewart was asked about the incident and he responded like this:

"Finally, I found myself on the side of the bakers.

"It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected, it was not because they were celebrating some sort of marriage or an agreement between them.

"It was the actual words on the cake they objected to. Because they found the words offensive. I would support their rights to say 'no, this is personally offensive to my beliefs, I will not do it.'"

Watch Stewart explain below:

UPDATE: Patrick Stewart just posted this to his Facebook page. I'm guessing he got some push-back.

As part of my advocacy for Amnesty International, I gave an interview on a number of subjects related to human rights, civil rights and freedom of speech. During the interview, I was asked about the Irish bakers who refused to put a message on a cake which supported marriage equality, because of their beliefs. In my view, this particular matter was not about discrimination, but rather personal freedoms and what constitutes them, including the freedom to object. Both equality and freedom of speech are fundamental rights— and this case underscores how we need to ensure one isn’t compromised in the pursuit of the other. I know many disagree with my sentiments, including the courts. I respect and understand their position, especially in this important climate where the tides of prejudices and inequality are (thankfully) turning. What I cannot respect is that some have conflated my position on this single matter to assume I’m anti-equality or that I share the personal beliefs of the bakers. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could be further from the truth. I have long championed the rights of the LGBT community, because equality should not only be, as the people of Ireland powerfully showed the world, universally embraced, but treasured.