Lib Dems demand same-sex marriage for Northern Ireland on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Today on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Liberal Democrats have demanded that the Government legislate for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
Responding to reports that the Conservative Government, propped up by the anti-equal marriage party the DUP, is considering legislating to allow longer licensing hours for the Open Golf Championship taking place in Northern Ireland this July, Alistair Carmichael said:
It is ridiculous that the Conservatives would even consider legislating for the British Open to have slightly longer licensing hours while they are still refusing to legislate for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
Same-sex marriage is vital in reducing homophobia, transphobia and biphobia in society. I cannot begin to understand the thinking of Conservatives who would prioritise the selling of alcohol at 10am instead of 11:30am, instead of ensuring every citizen of the UK has the right to marry the person they love.
Liberal Democrats legislated for same-sex marriage when in Government and we have not stopped fighting for this right be to extended to Northern Ireland.
Liberal Democrats demand better for LGBT+ people in Northern Ireland. That is why we will use every chance in Parliament to legislate for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
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5 Comments
If Ulster is part of the United Kingdom to the extent that there can not be a border between them then it surely follows that human rights should not be different in the parts of the same country with no borders. It is time the British Parliament made it clear to the DUP they can argue that Northern Ireland is the same as Britain, or that it is not, but not both…
Also congratulations to Taiwan for making history in Asia.
The United Nations has asserted that human rights are universal. The European Convention on Human Rights is a legal implementation with a slightly different text. The EctHR is not a part of the EU and is not affected by Article 50.
If equal marriage is debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly it might pass. We saw what happened in the Republic. Splitting the decision making on several issues is therefore a possibility.
When US Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton alleged that Donald Trump wanted to control the US Supreme Court and revoke Roe v Wade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade
she may have been thought to be scare-mongering, but we should look back in anger at the unprecedented refusal of the Republican-controlled Congress to even have a hearing on President Obama’s nomination.
The decision in Alabama is intended to be a challenge to Roe v Wade which may run all the way to the now-conservative Supreme Court. Part of the problem is that the Justices will need to delve into the thinking of those who drafted the US constitution without access to modern medical knowledge.
One of the reasons the Democrats won a majority in the mid-term elections was that they had focussed on getting female pro-choice candidates, but they did not do well in Alabama. The law needs the approval of a Republican governor who has not yet decided what she will do.
Is devolution Lib Dem policy or not?
Certain human rights are universal and due to being part of mankind. I’m not sure this gives legislators the right to impose them on others. In any event laws are better accepted if decided by those effected. What is needed is a cultural change that makes same-sex marriage acceptable to most of the population. This will not be achieved by legislating but by proper discussion and consultation. Imposing legislation is a terrible way of altering culture. If most people in Northern Ireland approve of same-sex marriage then legislation could be seen as implementing the will of the people as following a referendum.