Gay marriage rally gathers at City Hall for equality

Love is in the Eire

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The Republic said yes, and now Belfast is demanding the same for Northern Ireland.

Yesterday hundreds gathered at the foot of city hall, and carried the same sentiment – “we won’t be left behind”.

Inspired by the referendum in the Republic of Ireland, which Queen’s students also rallied in support of, the people of Belfast have called for the same marriage equality in Northern Ireland as they now have in the South.

The equal marriage rally, organised through Facebook, took place at Belfast city hall, following last week’s victory for equal marriage campaigners in the South, in the hopes that Northern Ireland will follow suit.

The Facebook event had over 4000 attendees

According to the Facebook event the rally was held in a response to elected representatives failing to pass the motion of equal marriage four times in the Northern Irish Assembly.

There has been increasing support for marriage reform in Northern Ireland recently with Queen’s students also getting involved in the movement. Second year Psychologist Clare Meehan started a petition to bring marriage equality up north.

Last week, we went out and asked you your thoughts on marriage reform and you responded with a resounding yes.

Amnesty International UK will also host a march through Belfast on June 13 in support of the equal marriage movement.

Northern Ireland’s Programme Director and Head of Nations & Regions for Amnesty International UK, Patrick Corrigan said: “People in Northern Ireland are sick of living in a discriminatory backwater for gay people.”

Northern Ireland is the only country in the islands of the United Kingdom and Ireland that is yet to reform marriage laws.