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| Northern Ireland Assembly’s Vote to Approve Same-Sex Marriage Is Blocked | Northern Ireland Assembly’s Vote to Approve Same-Sex Marriage Is Blocked |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| DUBLIN — A majority of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly voted on Monday to legalize same-sex marriage in the British-ruled region, but the majority Democratic Unionist Party immediately invoked a parliamentary maneuver to veto the measure. | DUBLIN — A majority of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly voted on Monday to legalize same-sex marriage in the British-ruled region, but the majority Democratic Unionist Party immediately invoked a parliamentary maneuver to veto the measure. |
| It was the fifth such vote on marriage equality in the local Parliament over the past three years — the previous four failed to garner enough support among assembly members. This time, of the 105 members, 53 voted in favor of the measure and 51 against. One member abstained. | It was the fifth such vote on marriage equality in the local Parliament over the past three years — the previous four failed to garner enough support among assembly members. This time, of the 105 members, 53 voted in favor of the measure and 51 against. One member abstained. |
| The motion was supported by members of the nationalist parties along with a number of unionists and independents. It was opposed by the D.U.P., which has a strongly conservative Protestant ethos. | The motion was supported by members of the nationalist parties along with a number of unionists and independents. It was opposed by the D.U.P., which has a strongly conservative Protestant ethos. |
| Under Northern Ireland’s complex power-sharing arrangements, any legislative amendment must command sufficient cross-community support. The D.U.P. used this so-called petition of concern mechanism to impose a veto. | Under Northern Ireland’s complex power-sharing arrangements, any legislative amendment must command sufficient cross-community support. The D.U.P. used this so-called petition of concern mechanism to impose a veto. |
| A petition of concern requires at least 60 percent of assembly members to vote for a motion, with at least 40 percent of both unionist and nationalist representatives present and voting. In this case, it effectively means that same-sex marriage legislation will remain prohibited as long as the D.U.P., which holds 38 seats in the Assembly, opposes it. | |
| Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where civil marriage between same-sex couples is not recognized. It was legalized in England, Wales and Scotland last year. | Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where civil marriage between same-sex couples is not recognized. It was legalized in England, Wales and Scotland last year. |
| Last week, the Republic of Ireland ratified same-sex marriage legislation after a referendum on the issue that passed overwhelmingly in May. The first such marriages are expected to take place there before Christmas. | Last week, the Republic of Ireland ratified same-sex marriage legislation after a referendum on the issue that passed overwhelmingly in May. The first such marriages are expected to take place there before Christmas. |
| Peter Weir, a veteran D.U.P. Assembly member, told reporters after the vote that he did not regard it as a defeat or a demand for change. | |
| “If it requires a process of attrition to alter a result, it does not demonstrate a great deal of force behind the argument of those who have brought forward the proposal on each occasion,” he said. | “If it requires a process of attrition to alter a result, it does not demonstrate a great deal of force behind the argument of those who have brought forward the proposal on each occasion,” he said. |
| However, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, told Attitude magazine that the failure of politicians to legislate on the issue would make a legal challenge inevitable. | However, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, told Attitude magazine that the failure of politicians to legislate on the issue would make a legal challenge inevitable. |
| “It is a tragedy that same-sex couples are forced to ask the courts to fulfill a responsibility which has been abdicated for too long by too many politicians,” he said. | “It is a tragedy that same-sex couples are forced to ask the courts to fulfill a responsibility which has been abdicated for too long by too many politicians,” he said. |
| Two separate challenges to the ban are expected to come before the High Court in Belfast in the coming months. | Two separate challenges to the ban are expected to come before the High Court in Belfast in the coming months. |