Call For Marriage Referendum To Be Extended Into NI

Sinn Féin said the result of the marriage referendum represents the lifting of discrimination against the gay community in the rest of the island of Ireland.

Daithí McKay MLA is also calling for the same rights to be extended to Northern Ireland.

He said: "The North now sticks out like a sore thumb as the only part of these islands, indeed the only part of far Western Europe that does not permit marriage equality. That does not present a welcoming image to gay people at home or abroad.

"I do not see the sense in not giving gay couples the freedom to marry in Ballymena or Ballycastle in their own communities and with their own families when they have the right to do so in Dundalk and Donegal.

"Regardless of referendums however gay people should have the same rights as anybody else.

"I am the only local North Antrim MLA to support marriage equality but I do think that the result at the weekend shows that public opinion in Ireland, north and south, is ahead of where many politicians are at.

"We should always remember the unseen devastation that has been caused by prejudice against the gay community. The sense of isolation, self-harm, the suicide rate amongst many young gay people is something that must be tackled once and for all.

"The result at the weekend will help that. The continuing blocking of the rights of gay people at Stormont will not."

(CD)