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History has been made in Northern Ireland.
The province, which is part of the United Kingdom, voted to make same-sex marriage legal after a six-year battle between the British Parliament in Westminster and Stormont, the seat of Northern Ireland’s devolved legislative power, CNNreported.
With the monumental decision, Northern Ireland now joins the rest of the U.K. — including England, Scotland, and Wales — where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2014.
As of Monday, same-sex couples can register to marry, with the first ceremonies expected to take place in February, according toBBC News. Any couples who are already married will now be legally recognized in Northern Ireland, and heterosexual couples can enter civil partnerships, the outlet reported.
However, same-sex couples who are already in a civil partnership will not yet be able to convert it into a marriage just yet. Later this year the Northern Ireland Office will look into the process of conversion and what role churches will play in same-sex marriages, according to BBC News.
Patrick Corrigan of human rights organizationAmnesty Internationaltold the outlet that the legislation being passed was a “historic day for equality and human rights in Northern Ireland.”
“For too long, LGBT+ people in Northern Ireland have been treated as second-class citizens,” he told BBC News in a statement. “So, today is an incredible moment for same-sex couples who can finally marry and have their relationships recognized as equal.”
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After a long delay, due in part to the Stormont assembly collapsing, the government recently got back on track to pass the legislation, according to BBC News.
“It’s a good day for Northern Ireland, an important day for citizens’ rights across these islands and an exciting day for same-sex couples who can now register to marry,” McGinn told the outlet, adding that “everyone who values equality, love and respect can celebrate today.”
source: people.com
