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Gay marriage proposal rejected by Stormont assembly members | Gay marriage proposal rejected by Stormont assembly members |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Assembly members have rejected a proposal that same-sex couples should have the right to marry. | Assembly members have rejected a proposal that same-sex couples should have the right to marry. |
The motion was proposed by the Green Party and Sinn Fein. | The motion was proposed by the Green Party and Sinn Fein. |
The DUP had tabled a petition of concern ensuring that the motion would have to command a cross-community majority to succeed. | The DUP had tabled a petition of concern ensuring that the motion would have to command a cross-community majority to succeed. |
While 45 assembly members voted to back the move, only three in favour were unionists - UUP MLAs Michael Copeland, Danny Kinahan and Basil McCrea. | While 45 assembly members voted to back the move, only three in favour were unionists - UUP MLAs Michael Copeland, Danny Kinahan and Basil McCrea. |
Green Party MLA Steven Agnew said he was disappointed the motion had failed, but insisted the "narrow defeat" was a "significant step towards gaining marriage equality for the LGBT community in Northern Ireland". | |
"There are many who argued, both before and during the debate, that the 'vast majority of people in Northern Ireland' are against marriage equality; however, today's debate puts an end to that argument," he said. | |
"Close to 50% of elected members of the assembly publicly declared their support for same-sex marriage by voting in favour of this motion today." | |
Ahead of Monday's debate, the Presbyterian Church had written to all assembly members stating its opposition to any change in the current legal definition of marriage. | Ahead of Monday's debate, the Presbyterian Church had written to all assembly members stating its opposition to any change in the current legal definition of marriage. |
In its letter, the Presbyterian Church said it was "not merely an issue of conscience for Christian people and churches, but a very significant one for the whole of society". | In its letter, the Presbyterian Church said it was "not merely an issue of conscience for Christian people and churches, but a very significant one for the whole of society". |
It said gay marriage would "effectively demolish generations and centuries of societal norms established on Judaeo-Christian values". | It said gay marriage would "effectively demolish generations and centuries of societal norms established on Judaeo-Christian values". |
"The steady erosion of such values, with minimal debate about the worldview replacing them, causes us the very greatest concern," it added. | "The steady erosion of such values, with minimal debate about the worldview replacing them, causes us the very greatest concern," it added. |
The church argued it was not an equality issue, "as all of the significant legal benefits and rights available through marriage are already equally available through civil partnership". | The church argued it was not an equality issue, "as all of the significant legal benefits and rights available through marriage are already equally available through civil partnership". |
Westminster is consulting on whether to allow gay couples in England and Wales to marry, while in Scotland the SNP government has announced plans to bring forward a bill on the issue. | Westminster is consulting on whether to allow gay couples in England and Wales to marry, while in Scotland the SNP government has announced plans to bring forward a bill on the issue. |