“Press Eye – Belfast – Northern Ireland; http://presseye.com/; Press Eye – Belfast – Northern Ireland 02890669229”

Mandatory Credit - Picture by Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye © NORTHERN IRELAND: UK MINISTER TWEETS SUPPORT TO THOUSANDS MARCHING FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY Penny Mordaunt MP, Minister for Women and Equalities sends message to equal marriage demonstrators in Belfast “Tweets are welcome, but marriage equality legislation is what we really want from the Minister” – Patrick Corrigan March for equal marriage will be led by Belfast Lord Mayor Rally speakers to include Conor McGinn MP and Irish referendum Yes campaign leader Ailbhe Smyth Penny Mordaunt MP, the UK Government Minister for Women and Equalities, has tweeted a message of support to thousands of people who are expected to take to the streets of Belfast and Derry/Londonderry today to demand her government legislates for equal marriage for same-sex couples in Northern Ireland. The Minister tweeted the message: @Love_EqualityNI have a great day folks! ❤️ attaching a graphic for the march for marriage equality [SEE ATTACHED], which is expected to attract thousands to the streets of Belfast today. Last weekend the Minister tweeted a welcome for the Yes vote in Ireland’s referendum for abortion law reform, pointedly noting that it was “a historic and great day for Ireland, and a hopeful one for Northern Ireland. That hope must be met.” Campaigners for marriage equality in Northern Ireland have welcomed the Minister’s message of support, and called on her to introduce legislation to extend equal marriage to Northern Ireland, the only part of the UK or Ireland without such rights. Patrick Corrigan, the Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, one of the organisers of today’s Love Equality demonstrations, said: “Support from Penny Mordaunt is very welcome. As Minister for Women and Equalities, it is in her hands to change the law to end this discrimination against LGBT+ people in Northern Ireland. “Tweets are welcome, but marriage equality legislation is what we really want from the Minister. “Three-quarters of people here want to see marriage equality introduced - the thousands marching today are a very visible demonstration of that demand. “There has been no devolved government in Northern Ireland for almost eighteen months. Responsibility for marriage equality legislation, just as with abortion law reform, now sits squarely with the UK Government. How much longer do Ministers think LGBT+ people in Northern Ireland should have to wait to be treated equally?” Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of Belfast today to call on Theresa May to legislate for marriage equality in Northern Ireland. The march – organised by the Love Equality campaign – will take place across central Belfast and will be led by the City’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Nuala McAllister. It will end with a mass-rally in front of City Hall. The protest comes amidst intensifying calls on Theresa May to reform Northern Ireland’s restrictive laws on same-sex marriage and access to abortion, and will put further pressure on the Prime Minister to commit to human rights obligations in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where equal marriage is outlawed. Speakers at the rally: · Conor McGinn MP, whose private members’ bill to bring marriage equality to Northern Ireland was stymied last month when a Conservative MP objected to its second reading in Parliament. · Ailbhe Smyth, a leader in both the successful Marriage Equality campaign and the recent Repeal the 8th campaign in the Republic of Ireland. · Koulla Yiasouma, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. · John O’Doherty, a leader of the Love Equality campaign. · Paula Keenan and Pauline Dempsey, a same-sex couple currently denied the right to marry in Northern Ireland. One is from Northern Ireland, the other from the Republic, where they could get married, though their marriage would not be recognised when they return home to Northern Ireland. · Anthony Flynn and Cory Quinn, a same-sex couple currently denied the right to marry in Northern Ireland. · Shea Love and Brooklyn Burridge, two teenagers from the Cara-Friend LGBT+ youth group in Belfast. · Marcus Hunter-Neill, broadcaster / drag entertainer The Love Equality campaign for equal civil marriage in Northern Ireland is led by the Rainbow Project, Amnesty International, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Cara-Friend, NUS-USI and HereNI.