‘What a day to be gay Northern Ireland’: marriage equaly be law at last | LGBTQ+ rights | The Guardian

first gay couple to marry in northern ireland

Belfast uple Robyn Peopl, 26, and Sharni Edwards, 27, are the first gay uple to wed the provce. Same-sex marriage is now legal throughout the U.K.

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ONE OF N.L.'S FIRST MARRIED GAY UPL LOOK BACK WH PRI

* first gay couple to marry in northern ireland *

Belfast uple Robyn Peopl, 26, and Sharni Edwards, 27, are the first gay uple to wed the Edwards, 27, and Robyn Peopl, 26, a Belfast uple who are the first known same-sex uple to get married Northern Ireland, kiss after beg married Carrickferg on Feb. 11, 2020, 2:10 PM UTCCARRICKFERGUS, Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland’s first same-sex weddg took place on Tuday after the ernment lifted a ban on gay marriage the provce, markg legalizatn of the practice throughout the Uned Peopl, 26, a health re worker om the cy, and Sharni Edwards, 27, a wars origally om Brighton, beme the provce’s first gay uple to wed, acrdg to the Love Equaly mpaign women exchanged their vows Carrickferg, County Antrim on their sixth anniversary as a uple. Bra’s Northern Ireland Mister Julian Smh, members of parliament and mpaigners will celebrate the legalizatn of gay marriage at an event London later on Canng, the partner of murred thor Lyra McKee, who was shot ad by a New IRA gunman Londonrry last year, will also attend the London event.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: GAY UPL' ACTN ON 'LAY' NI

“It means the absolute world, ” Edwards said, when asked what meant to be champns for the lbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual and queer (LGBTQ) muny Northern Ireland, who have long mpaigned for equal rights.

MANY BRONS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE

Media ptn, Robyn Peopl and Sharni Edwards tie the knot Northern Ireland's first same-sex marriage ceremonyA uple have tied the knot the first same-sex marriage to take place Northern Peopl, om Belfast, and Sharni Edwards, om Brighton celebrated their nuptials on Tuday at a ceremony a hotel Carrickferg, County met five years ago at a gay bar of the ceremony, Ms Peopl, a re worker, said the pair were sendg a msage to the world that "we are equal". Power and David Philpott had to make their own ke topper by glug groomsmen figur togetherFrom “partner” to “hband”: meet one of the first married gay upl N. Philpott and Power may have been the first gay uple the provce to be legally married, but the trail they blazed was soon followed by many, wh the St.

‘WHAT A DAY TO BE GAY NORTHERN IRELAND’: MARRIAGE EQUALY BE LAW AT LAST

Protters held banners that read: "Homosexualy is a s".

We were the last part of UK to have ban on practice of homosexualy overturned. Image source, Hillgrove HotelImage ptn, Darren (left) and Tony Day said they were lighted to publicly clare their love for one anotherA Northern Ireland uple who are among the first to wed unr the Republic of Ireland's new same-sex marriage law said they are "thrilled" to be able to ll each other "hband and hband" and Darren Day held their weddg day County Monaghan on their Irish marriage was not legally regnised until Tuday, when a short ceremony ma County Antrim uple said is "a matter of time" until same-sex marriage is legalised Northern is the only part of the UK where gay marriage is not legal. IslandSpeakg after their legal exchange of vows on Tuday, Belfast man Darren said had been "a happy cince" that he and Tony, om Lisburn, were one of the first gay upl to marry the Republic of Ireland.

Image source, Getty ImagSame-sex marriage mpaigners have said they will start a legal challenge to force the ernment to allow gay upl Northern Ireland to nvert their civil partnerships to first gay marriag Northern Ireland are expected to take place Febary, after they were legalised legislatn passed by MPs ernment is "workg to meet" the adle for troducg the mpaigners have said has not done enough for some gay have said upl civil partnerships have been left behd bee unr the plans they will not be able to nvert their partnerships to England, Stland and Wal, civil-partnered upl n nvert their partnerships to marriage by fillg a form and payg a fee of £ source, PA MediaImage ptn, Amanda McGurk (left) and Cara McCann want to nvert their civil partnership to marriageThat will not immediately apply Northern Ireland but the ernment said tends to hold a public nsultatn about extendg that to the regn. 'Government changed s md'Cara McCann and Amanda McGurk said they would take legal actn to make sure the change is place same-sex uple entered a civil partnership this year and Ms McCann argued they had not been treated the same way as gay upl who were not civil partners. A civil partnership nnot be dissolved wh s first two years Northern Ireland - after that n only be dissolved for at least one of the reasons:two years of separatn wh the nsent of the other partner to dissolve the partnershipfive years of separatnunreasonable behavursertnMs McCann said that wh none of those grounds beg met and wh no right to nvert their partnership she and Ms McGurk were not able to benef om the legalisatn of same-sex was creatg a "hierarchy wh the LGBT muny", she new legislatn requir the ernment to brg regulatns to provi for same-sex marriage by 13 January upl have to dite their tentn to marry 28 days before dog so, meang the first gay weddgs are expected to be held the week of Valente's Day.

MEET THE FIRST BELFAST GAY UPL TO GET MARRIED - AND THE LOVERS STILL FIGHTG FOR JTICE

'Delay for relig weddgs'Ms McCann and Ms McGurk are beg joed their legal actn by two Christian same-sex source, Amnty InternatnalImage ptn, Cara McCann (send right) and Amanda McGurk (right) have no choice but to take legal actn, says their solicor Ciaran Moynagh (send left)Unr the ernment's plans, same-sex upl will not be able to marry a relig ceremony when gay marriage be ernment said tend to rry out a nsultatn on allowg relig same-sex marriag Northern Ireland. The rultg aln ernment ially said would reta a ban on gay marriage. As of 2020, the most recent year for which there is data, more than 42, 000 gay upl England and Wal had tied the knot.

) Pollg June found that more than three-quarters of Brons now support gay marriage, up om jt over half 2012. It end Sectn 28, which prevented schools and lol thori om “promotg homosexualy” and troduced civil partnerships. “I don’t support gay marriage spe beg a Conservative.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* FIRST GAY COUPLE TO MARRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

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class="fHh0w"><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/lgbt"><span data-ttid="tag-text">LGBT+</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/lgbt-history-month"><span data-ttid="tag-text">LGBT+ History Month</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/northern-ireland"><span data-ttid="tag-text">Northern Ireland</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div class="YEmI-" data-ttid="date-time-"><i class="cp_in cp_in__clock cp_in--base u46pe" aria-hidn="te"><svg width="48px" height="48px" viewBox="0 0 48 48" versn="1.1" xmlns=" xmlns:xlk=" role="img"> <g transform="translate(-304.000000, -1456.000000)"> <g transform="translate(300.000000, 1452.000000)"> <path fill="#7B8386" fill-le="evenodd" d="M27.9766667,4.66666667 C15.0966667,4.66666667 4.66666667,15.12 4.66666667,28 C4.66666667,40.88 15.0966667,51.3333333 27.9766667,51.3333333 C40.88,51.3333333 51.3333333,40.88 51.3333333,28 C51.3333333,15.12 40.88,4.66666667 27.9766667,4.66666667 Z M28,46.6666667 C17.6866667,46.6666667 9.33333333,38.3133333 9.33333333,28 C9.33333333,17.6866667 17.6866667,9.33333333 28,9.33333333 C38.3133333,9.33333333 46.6666667,17.6866667 46.6666667,28 C46.6666667,38.3133333 38.3133333,46.6666667 28,46.6666667 Z M29.1666667,16.3333333 L25.6666667,16.3333333 L25.6666667,30.3333333 L37.9166667,37.6833333 L39.6666667,34.8133333 L29.1666667,28.5833333 L29.1666667,16.3333333 Z" /> </g> </g></svg></i><time class="iCsJz _0Z4Oc" dateTime="2020-02-05T17:59:52Z" data-ttid="date-time">Wednday 5 Febary 2020 at 5:59pm</time></div></li></ul></div></hear><div class="_074l4 cp_grid__em" data-ttid="article-body"><div class="_8xmX9 f85xC A8Lwr" data-ttid="embed-brightve"><div data-ttid="player-overlay"><picture data-ttid="poster-image" class="cp_picture dUTNY"><source type="image/avif" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1280px)"/><source type="image/avif" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1024px)"/><source type="image/avif" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 768px)"/><source type="image/avif" srcSet="><source type="image/webp" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1280px)"/><source type="image/webp" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1024px)"/><source type="image/webp" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 768px)"/><source type="image/webp" srcSet="><source type="image/eg" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1280px)"/><source type="image/eg" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1024px)"/><source type="image/eg" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 768px)"/><source type="image/eg" srcSet="><img alt="" class="cp_picture__img" src="></picture><button class="_5ZKtN"><i class="cp_in cp_in__play-news-short-form EhtER lXUL6 cp_in--ctom-size" aria-hidn="false"><svg width="15" height="20" viewBox="0 0 15 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-label="Play Brightve vio" role="img"><tle>Play Brightve vio</tle><path fill-le="evenodd" clip-le="evenodd" d="M0.542124 0.110987C0.875033 -0.0604726 1.27584 -0.031568 1.5807 0.185886L14.5807 9.45861C14.8479 9.6492 15.0046 9.95875 14.9999 10.2869C14.9952 10.6151 14.8299 10.9201 14.5574 11.103L1.55738 19.8303C1.2507 20.0361 0.85551 20.0562 0.529562 19.8824C0.203615 19.7087 0 19.3694 0 19V1C0 0.625535 0.209216 0.282447 0.542124 0.110987Z" fill="whe"/></svg></i></button></div><vio-js data-acunt="2821697655001" data-player="B1J9ApOVZ" data-embed="flt" ntrols="" data-vio-id="6131634694001" data-playlist-id="" data-applitn-id="" class="_4h-ua"></vio-js></div><ul class="xhBdb" data-ttid="list"><li class="t9HgO" data-ttid="list-em"><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><strong class="_1ATDh">Vio report by ITV News Corrponnt Gerat Vcent</strong></p></li></ul><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">A uple have bee the first same-sex uple to marry Northern Ireland, sayg "'s amazg" to see "history beg ma".</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peopl tied the knot County Antrim on Febary 11, durg LGBT history month. </p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">The pair said the date is a lucky cince, however, as they had not planned to be the first same-sex marriage to take place the regn.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">The uple's married name is Edwards-Peopl.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Same-sex marriag have been takg place England, Stland and Wal sce March 2014.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">Robyn Peopl (left) and Sharni Edwards beme the first uple to have a same-sex marriage Northern Ireland.<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><ul class="xhBdb" data-ttid="list"><li class="t9HgO" data-ttid="list-em"><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/utv/2019-10-22/same-sex-marriage-and-abortn-now-legal--northern-ireland"><span class="n6NlI"><strong class="_1ATDh">Same-sex marriage and abortn legal Northern Ireland</strong></span></a></p></li><li class="t9HgO" data-ttid="list-em"><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/2019-07-09/same-sex-marriage--ni-a-step-closer-after-mons-vote"><span class="n6NlI"><strong class="_1ATDh">Same-sex marriage Northern Ireland a step closer after Commons vote</strong></span></a></p></li></ul><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Months before the landmark law legalisg same-sex marriage Northern Ireland, Ms Edwards and Ms Peopl had booked a civil partnership ceremony to ci wh their sixth anniversary.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Same-sex marriage was legalised Northern Ireland as a rult of a law passed last year by Wtmster MPs who stepped and acted on the ntroversial issue durg the <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/2020-01-11/stormont-assembly-due-to-s-aga-after-al-to-rtore-powersharg"><span class="n6NlI"><strong class="_1ATDh">power sharg impasse</strong></span></a> at Stormont.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Only after the law change did the uple turn the event to a weddg ceremony.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peopl will wed County Antrim on Febary 11 durg LGBT history month.<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Ms Edwards, 27, and Ms Peopl, 26, said they planned an timate weddg ceremony followed by a big party.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Before the weddg, Ms Peopl scribed the build-up to the high-profile weddg as an "amazg whirlwd".</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"It’s the biggt cince," she said.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">The uple tied the knot on Tuday.<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"We didn’t set out to be the first or have all this attentn, but we are grateful to be able to set the way for the rt of our muny."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Asked what means to them to have bee LGBTQ champns Northern Ireland, Ms Edwards rpond " means the absolute world", before gog on to thank all the activists who have mpaigned for same-sex marriage Northern Ireland.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">The uple said was 'amazg' to bee an spiratn to other LGBT muni Northern Ireland.<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"If wasn't for them guys we wouldn't be sat here right now, we jt want to say thank you to everyone... everyone who has marched and signed petns, everyone who has helped get to this stage, we jt want to say thank you."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Ms Peopl, a senr re assistant om Belfast, said she never thought the day would e, due to the reluctance of many lol policians to lift the prohibn.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">She add: "It's jt to show that we are equal to a man and a woman, our love is jt the same, 's no different," she said.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"Sometim people might try to say 's not. Our love is the exact same, and this means everythg to .</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"Now we are married and we have this opportuny - this is my wife, I n fally say she is my wife and we have had our marriage."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Ms Edwards, om Brighton, said she did not even know the law was different Northern Ireland until she moved to Belfast om England.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"Every year you jt felt knocked back and knocked back no matter how many march and protts there were, but fally we are there," said the wars.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"When I found out, I uldn’t prehend , I uldn’t unrstand why Northern Ireland was so behd.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"Now the bill’s been passed to see history beg ma ’s jt amazg."</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">Members of the LGBT muny celebrate Belfast celebrate same-sex marriage Northern Ireland beg a step closer.<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><ul class="xhBdb" data-ttid="list"><li class="t9HgO" data-ttid="list-em"><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/2020-01-02/ncerns-over-ee-speech-as-same-sex-marriage-legislatn-troduced"><span class="n6NlI"><strong class="_1ATDh">Concerns over ee speech as same sex marriage legislatn troduced</strong></span></a></p></li></ul><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">The uple paid a vis to a Belfast mural dited to <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/utv/2019-04-19/murred-journalist-lyra-mckee-a-shg-star-of-a-new-northern-ireland"><span class="n6NlI"><strong class="_1ATDh">murred journalist Lyra McKee</strong></span></a> as they spoke about their weddg plans.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Ms McKee, who was shot ad by dissint republins as she observed a rt Londonrry last April, was a vol mpaigner for same-sex marriage.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">The uple vised a Belfast mural dited to murred thor Lyra McKee.<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Patrick Corrigan om Amnty Internatnal said the weddg would be a momento ocsn not only for the uple but <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/2019-06-19/70-of-people---believe-gay-upl-should-be-able-to-marry--ni"><span class="n6NlI"><strong class="_1ATDh">for the tens of thoands of people who were volved the mpaign</strong></span></a> for a law change.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"It’s big day for them but ’s also a big day for the mpaign for equal marriage Northern Ireland," he said.</p><div class="_8xmX9 f85xC A8Lwr" data-ttid="embed-brightve"><div data-ttid="player-overlay"><div class="cp_placeholr" data-ttid="poster-image"></div><button class="_5ZKtN"><i class="cp_in cp_in__play-news-short-form EhtER lXUL6 cp_in--ctom-size" aria-hidn="false"><svg width="15" height="20" viewBox="0 0 15 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-label="Play Brightve vio" role="img"><tle>Play Brightve vio .

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