Abortion and Same-Sex Marriage Rights to be Extended to Northern Ireland in Absence of Devolved Government

A bill that would finally extend abortion rights and same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland has been given final approval by MPs.

If power-sharing is not restored to the region by the end of the year, LGBT+ Northern Irelanders will be able to marry from January 2020.

“Love wins! Today that message rang out from Westminster,” said John O’Doherty, director of Northern Ireland LGBT+ charity The Rainbow Project.

“Unless there is a return of assembly by October, in January 2020 same sex couples will be able to get married or have their civil partnership upgraded – and I and my partner plan to be one of the first in line.”

“With relentless positivity, we changed hearts and minds, brought more people to the LGBT civil rights movement and helped platform equal marriage as the rights issue of our generation,” added Cara McCann, director of LGBT+ organisation HereNI.

“This win means so much to couples and families like mine, who to date have not been recognised as equals by our government.

“Today, we have ensured that those days of discrimination are now coming to an end.”

Keep up to date with the latest myGnews

LGBT professionals, LGBT Graduates, LGBT professional network, LGBT professional events, LGBT networking events, LGBT Recruitment, LGBT Friendly organisations, LGBT Friendly companies, LGBT jobs