THEGAYUK

Tag: Northern Ireland News

Get the latest LGBT+ Northern Ireland news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Northern Ireland, UK

  • Gay marriage now legal in Northern Ireland

    Cake, Gay Marriage, gay wedding
    CREDIT: © ivonnewierink Depositphotos

    Gay and lesbian couples are now able to get married in all four nations of the UK.

    Same-sex marriage is now legal in Northern Ireland – despite repeated attempts by the DUP to thwart legal equality for gay and lesbians in the region.

    The subject of same-sex marriage had been voted on at least five times by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

    Northern Ireland is the last nation in the United Kingdom to legalise marriage between two people of the same sex. England, Scotland and Wales have permitted same-sex marriage since 2014.

    This also means that gay people who are already married will have their marriages recognised in Northern Ireland.

    From today, couples in Northern Ireland can register their intent to marry with the authorities with the first actual marriages expected to take place on the 10th February 2020.

    Legal equality was only possible, after repeated attempts by campaigners to bring same-sex marriage to the table, when, the Stormont assembly collapsed in 2019.

    This meant that in July 2019, MPs backed amendments which required the government to change abortion laws and extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland if devolution was not restored by 21 October 2019.

  • Is gay marriage legal in the UK now?

    Is gay marriage legal in the UK now?

    The laws changed in the early twenty-teens to make gay marriage legal. However, the timetable was different for all parts of the UK.

    gay marriage became law in 2013
    CREDIT: © ivonnewierink Depositphotos

    Gay marriage or same-sex marriage has been legal in part of the UK since 2013 when the law was changed to allow partners of the same sex to marry. England and Wales were the first nations of the UK to permit same-sex marriage when the law changed in July 2013.  Royal Assent was given by the Queen on the 17th July 2013 for English and Welsh same-sex marriages. The first same-sex marriage in England took place on the 13 March 2014.

    In Scotland, the legislation took a little longer and gay marriage was given Royal Assent on 12th March with the first weddings taking place on 16th December 2014.

    Is gay marriage legal in all parts of the UK now?

    In Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage didn’t become law until only recently after a long contentious battle.

    Northern Ireland held out in make gay marriage legal
    The DUP held back LGBT+ rights in Northern Ireland vote against gay marriage every time it became before the courts to become law. In total, they voted against it five times. Eventually, it was made law in 2020.

    Northern Ireland made gay marriage legal in January 2020 after a long and drawn-out legal clash between activists, human rights lawyers and the DUP. There were numerous attempts, in fact, there were five attempts to make gay marriage legal in NI since 2012.

    The subject of same-sex marriage was voted on five times by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Each time it was blocked by the DUP.

    There are a lot of differences between civil partnerships and marriages. You can read about them here.

    Are you planning a wedding? Check out our gay wedding guide for the best services and planners.

  • RuPaul drag queens are coming to Belfast and this is how you can see them

    RuPaul drag queens are coming to Belfast and this is how you can see them

    Asia O’Hara, Detox, Eureka O’hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Sharon Needles  Violet Chachki and Michelle Visage are all coming to Belfast in 2019 here’s where you can get tickets.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race ‘Werq The World Tour’ is returning to Belfast in 2019 with its biggest UK show ever. The tour which showcases some of the best stars from the hit TV series will play Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on the 7th May 2019.

    Produced by Voss Events, Drag Race producers World of Wonder and VH1, the all-new production follows a team of intergalactic queens including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Detox, Eureka O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Sharon Needles and Violet Chachki on their mission to the sun to save our solar system from a dark entity intent on harnessing its power.

    Mission leader Michelle Visage guides the audience through the universe for a dynamic display of the wonders held by each planet and its regal sovereign.

    Tickets go on sale December 19 (pre-sale begins December 17), just in time for the holidays.

    “This is the biggest, most elaborate production we have ever created,” says an exuberant Brandon Voss, the show’s producer.

    “The music, sets, fashion, choreography and lighting are all a cosmic feast for the senses. Audiences will be in awe as their favourite queens come together on some incredible numbers.”

    “Werq the World is the official Drag Race tour for a reason,” continues Visage. “The show has always been a theatrical production of the highest calibre but in 2019, we’re stepping it up into the stratosphere. This show is going to leave fans gagging and I’m not afraid to say that my performance, in particular, will give you life.”

    Voss Events is a leading production company that consistently delivers superior entertainment programming. Past events have featured stars such as Lady Gaga and Cher.

    The queens will be coming to Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Sunderland.

    The WERQ THE WORLD TOUR will travel major cities in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and Latin America in 2019. To book tickets for the Belfast date click here

  • How many gay people are there in Northern Ireland?

    How many gay people are there in Northern Ireland?

    The number of people who identify as lesbian, gay and bisexual in Northern Ireland is a hotly debated subject, with no clear answer, but here will look at all the available stats.

    how many gay people are in Northern Ireland
    (C) BIGSTOCK

    There has long been a widely-held belief that around 10 per cent of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual or who identify as non-heterosexual. This is probably the most accurate of all the figures – as more and more people feel comfortable to come out about their sexuality.

    ALSO: How many gay people are there in England?

    ALSO: How many gay people are there in Wales?

    ALSO: How many gay people are there in Scotland?

    The most up-to-date statistics from healthcare company Euroclinix show that six per cent of people identify as homosexual while seven per cent of people identify as bisexual. This equates to 13 per cent of the population identifying as either gay, lesbian or bisexual. EuroClinix surveyed 2,000 people around the UK to find out more about the sex lives of Brits.

    The current population in Northern Ireland is estimated to be 5.405 million people, which means that there are over 702,650 gay, lesbian or bisexual people in Northern Ireland if you take that 13 per cent statistic.

    Other sources:

    The ONS (Office of National Statistics) says that in a survey of people in the United Kingdom it found that 1.5 per cent of people identified as LGB. This result was arrived at by extrapolation of data collected. However, these statistics were disputed for not being accurate or showing the full picture. By their estimations, this would mean that there are only 81,075 LGB people in Northern Ireland.

    However, in 2005 the HM Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry of the UK estimated that nearly 6 per cent of people were LGB after studying the economic impact of civil partnerships and same-sex marriages. By their estimations, this would mean that there are 324,300 LGB people in Northern Ireland.

    In 2008 the Guardian newspaper reported that 8 per cent of the population were LGB in 2014 the same newspaper group conducted another survey and found that the figures were still consistent. By their estimations, this would mean that there are 432,400 LGB people in Northern Ireland.

     

     

     

  • Barnardo’s charity throws its support behind gay marriage in Northern Ireland

    Barnardo’s charity throws its support behind gay marriage in Northern Ireland

    “Our support for same-sex couples to marry reflects Barnardo’s core belief that every person is different but equal and everyone’s unique worth should be recognised.”

    © DGLimages Depositphotos

    Barnardo’s NI is throwing its support behind the campaign for civil marriage equality in Northern Ireland. It is the first children’s charity in Northern Ireland to publicly voice its support.

    Barnardo’s is making the announcement to coincide with Belfast Pride’s Coming Out for Change Campaign.

    As a UK-wide organisation Barnardo’s has in the past supported marriage equality campaigns in other areas of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland.

    Director Barnardo’s NI Lynda Wilson said, “We work with many children, young people and families who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Many of our workforce and volunteers as a reflection of society also identify as LGBTQ and we do not discriminate.”

    “We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and believe marriage equality is an extension of that. As a children’s charity we want the children and families we support as well as our staff and volunteers to know that we will stand up for them and support them.  We believe marriage equality should be a right for all regardless of sexual orientation.”

    “Our support for same sex couples to marry reflects Barnardo’s core belief that every person is different but equal and everyone’s unique worth should be recognised. We work and live in a diverse and multi-cultural environment which Barnardo’s embraces and promotes.”

    “Marriage equality legislation has been passed in the rest of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, across western Europe, the USA and Australia and we hope that Northern Ireland will soon follow, giving same sex couples the right and freedom to marry if they so wish.”

    Marriage and Northern Ireland

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    Gay marriage continues to be a contentious issue in Northern Ireland for its politicians, particularly the DUP. Despite same-sex marriage being legal in England, Wales and Scotland, Northern Ireland is the only nation within the UK that doesn’t allow its gay and lesbian couples to get married. Instead, gay couples are only permitted to have Civil Partnerships, which are legally different to marriages.

    The subject of same-sex marriage has been voted on five times by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Each time it was blocked by the DUP.

     

  • Gay marriage blocked once again in Northern Ireland

    It seems our lesbian & gay family in Northern Ireland will have to wait even longer to enjoy same-sex marriage after Northern Ireland’s High Court ruled to keep the ban in place.

    Gay marriage blocked once again in Northern Ireland

    Despite same-sex marriage being legal in England, Wales and Scotland, Northern Ireland is the only nation within the UK that doesn’t allow its gay and lesbian couples to get married. Instead, gay couples are only permitted to have Civil Partnerships, which are legally different to marriages.

    Two cases, specifically about Northern Ireland recognising same-sex marriage made outside the nation were rejected by the High Court. This means, even if a same-sex couple is married anywhere else in the UK, their marriage will not be valid in Northern Ireland.

    The two cases were heard together, due to the legal similarities. The first was known as Petition X, and was brought by a gay couple who were married in London in 2014. When they moved to Northern Ireland their marriage was changed to a Civil Partnership.

    The second case was brought by two couples in civil partnerships – Grainne Close and Shannon Sickles and Chris and Henry Flanagan-Kane. They contended the ban breaches their human rights.

    Both cases were rejected by Mr Justice O’Hara  who said the ban did not violate the rights of gay and lesbian couples. He added that it was for the nation’s politicians to decide social policy in Northern Ireland.

    Delivering the verdict the Judge said,

    “It is not at all difficult to understand how gay men and lesbians who have suffered discrimination, rejection and exclusion feel so strongly about the maintenance in Northern Ireland of the barrier to same sex marriage,

    “The judgement which I have to reach is not based on social policy but on the law.”

    The subject of same-sex marriage has been voted on five times by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Each time it was blocked by the DUP, the party Theresa May is relying on for her parliamentary majority after the General Election provided a slim majority for the Tories.

     

  • This is how the DUP voted on gay marriage in Northern Ireland last time

    This worrying graphic shows how the DUP voted on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland in 2015.

     

    As you can see all other parties in Northern Ireland voted positivity for gay marriage, however only the Unionists voted against same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage has come up for voting four times. Each time it is voted down.

    96 MLAs took part in a vote for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, 49 of them voted against the Sinn Féin promoted motion, despite a Belfast Telegraph poll in September 2014, showing that a majority of the Northern Ireland population supporting same-sex marriage. 40.1 percent of those surveyed supported equal marriage, while 39.4% opposed it. 20.5% had no opinion on it either way.

    With Sinn Féin, SDLP and five Alliance MLA’s supporting the proposal, the DUP and Unionists road blocked the bill which would see all LGBs given equality in marriage.

    All DUP members voted against it and of 53 unionists, just four voted in favour.

     

  • DUP “not homophobic” just traditional

    The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, has taken a swipe at the criticism and backlash launched at her party for its anti-gay equality policies.

    Arlene Foster has defended her party’s policies on LGBT+ equality, after a huge online backlash formed when it became apparent that Prime Minister Theresa May would need to do a deal with the DUP in order to maintain some kind of majority in Parliament. Nearly one million have signed petitions of no-confidence in a deal between the Conservatives and the DUP.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Ms Foster yesterday had a meeting with the UK’s Prime Minster, Theresa May.

    Theresa May’s gamble to hold a snap General Election to fortify her party’s stronghold in government backfired spectacularly last week leaving her party fewer less seats than they needed in order to form a majority government.

    Speaking on ITV News the DUP’s leader, Ms Foster said they were not homophobic but they “take a particular view in relation to the definition of marriage”, she described the backlash as “hyperbole”.

    The Northern Irish government have failed to legalise gay marriage 4 times, with the DUP being the main obstruction to equality. Northern Ireland remains the only place in the UK which does not allow gay couples to marry. It does, however, have civil partnerships.

     

     

  • Theresa May reassures no erosion of gay rights in return for DUP support

    Theresa May has assured Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, that there will be no erosion of LGBT+ rights in return for DUP support.

    Ruth Davidson, who is planning to marry her partner Jen Wilson, spoke to the Prime Minister about the issue of LGBT+ rights and told the BBC’s Reporting Scotland programme, “I was fairly straightforward with her and I told her that there were a number of things that count to me more than party, One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights.”

    Ms May apparently gave a “categoric assurance” that any deal between the Conservatives and DUP would see “absolutely no rescission of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK”.

    Ms Davidson also said that Mrs May said she would use her influence to advance gay rights in Northern Ireland.

    Northern Ireland is the last place in the UK to legalise same-sex marriage – with the issue being voted on four times.

    WHO ARE THE DUP?

    The DUP have earned themselves a reputation for being homophobic after voting against same-sex marriage four times.

    Theresa May looks to have negotiated with the DUP, who have 10 seats, in order to take their total number of seats up to 328, a majority of just two seats. However, the coalition will not be welcome news for many in the LGBT+ community has the DUP has run on a platform of conservativism which includes anti-LGBT equality and anti-abortion.

    During their campaigning and the release of their manifesto, the DUP failed to mention any pledges for the LGBT community.

    The party’s founder Ian Paisley spearheaded the Save Ulster from Sodomy in the 1970s, which was opposed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, in fact, Northern Ireland was the last country within the UK to decriminalise homosexuality, which it did so in 1982. Paisley’s son, Ian Paisley Jr said that he was “repulsed” by homosexuality.

     

  • Petition urging Theresa May not to form DUP coalition reaches 110,000

    A petition of no confidence in a coalised Government between the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has reached 110,000 in under 24 hours.

    Mrs May’s plans to form a Government with the help of the DUP is facing mounting pressure after a petition of no confidence was signed by 110,000 people in under 24 hours. Another petition has reached 380,000 petitioners.

    However, the DUP is a deeply unpopular party with certain segments of society due to their stances on LGBT+ equality, women’s rights and the environment.

    The Prime Minister was unable to secure a majority Government after the results of her snap election revealed a shortfall and overall lost in seats, winning only 318 seats. Propped by DUP’s 10 seats, Mrs May will have a majority of just two seats. The Conservatives did have a majority of five before the election.

    The petition is hosted on the change.org platform and it remains to be seen whether the cause will be debated in Parliament as per the rules, that any petition that surpasses 100,000 signatures will be considered for debate in Parliament. However, the official UK Government petitioning site is not accepting any new petitions as they are waiting for a new petitions committee.

    WHO ARE THE DUP?

    The DUP have earned themselves a reputation for being homophobic after voting against same-sex marriage four times.

    Theresa May looks to have negotiated with the DUP, who have 10 seats, in order to take their total number of seats up to 328, a majority of just two seats. However, the coalition will not be welcome news for many in the LGBT+ community has the DUP has run on a platform of conservativism which includes anti-LGBT equality and anti-abortion.

    During their campaigning and the release of their manifesto, the DUP failed to mention any pledges for the LGBT community.

    The party’s founder Ian Paisley spearheaded the Save Ulster from Sodomy in the 1970s, which was opposed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, in fact, Northern Ireland was the last country within the UK to decriminalise homosexuality, which it did so in 1982. Paisley’s son, Ian Paisley Jr said that he was “repulsed” by homosexuality.

     

  • Theresa May to make a deal with one of most homophobic political parties in the UK

    Theresa May looks set to make a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) who have consistently voted against LGBT+ equality.

    ARLENE FOSTER: the DUP leader.

    The DUP have earned themselves a reputation for being homophobic after voting against same-sex marriage four times.

    The Conservatives have failed to achieve an overall majority in the General Election, securing 38 seats. A party needs 326 seats in order to have a majority in the UK.

    Theresa May looks to have negotiated with the DUP, who have 10 seats, in order to take their total number of seats up to 328, a majority of just three seats. However, the coalition will not be welcome news for many in the LGBT+ community has the DUP has run on a platform of conservativism which includes anti-LGBT equality and anti-abortion.

    During their campaigning and the release of their manifesto, the DUP failed to mention any pledges for the LGBT community.

    The party’s founder Ian Paisley spearheaded the Save Ulster from Sodomy in the 1970s, which was opposed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland, in fact, Northern Ireland was the last country within the UK to decriminalise homosexuality, which it did so in 1982. Paisley’s son, Ian Paisley Jr said that he was “repulsed” by homosexuality.

    Many historic senior DUP figures have attracted criticism for a variety of homophobic remarks. In 2015 Health Minister Jim Wells claimed children brought up in same-sex relationships were more likely to be abused or neglected; he was forced to resign shortly thereafter and the police investigated his remarks.

    In 2008 the wife of then-First Minister Peter Robinson, Iris Robinson, recommended conversion therapy and called homosexuality “disgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked, and vile.”