Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Marriage Equality in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland finally joins England, Scotland, and Wales in allowing same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom.  This was the only part of the UK where it wasn't recognised.  The Republic of Ireland passed it in 2015 so now same-sex marriage will be legal across all of Ireland

Northern Ireland has allowed civil partnerships since 2005 but that doesn't give same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as a civil marriage.

It's been a long road in Northern Ireland.  Same-sex marriage was voted on five times between 2012 and 2015 and even though it narrowly passed on the fifth attempt it was vetoed by the Democratic Unionist Party.  

It will be law in January 2020 and on Valentine's Day, 14 February 2020, the first marriages may be registered.

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