Northern Ireland has legalized same-sex marriage effective yesterday, Monday, January 13, 2020.
It is expected that the first set of marriage ceremonies will take place in February 2020, while already married couples will have their marriages legally recognized in Northern Ireland.
A BBC report sighted by BestNewsGH.com stated that those who are already in a civil partnership will not be able to convert it to a marriage at this stage.
This portal is told officials in Northern Ireland are set to begin consultation later this year and centred on converting civil partnerships and the role of churches in same-sex marriages.
BestNewsGH.com can confirm that heterosexual couples, per the new law, are also permitted to go into civil partnerships with effect from January 13, 2020.
Member of Parliament in July 2019 backed amendments which required the government to make changes to abortion laws, while extending same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland if devolution was not restored by October, 21, 2019.
An amendment was made to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation Act) Act 2019 by the Labour MP Conor McGinn saying that the government had to legislate for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
Mr McGinn who spoke to the BBC said “everyone who values equality, love and respect can celebrate today”.
“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,” he said.
Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty International said it 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. So, today is an incredible moment for same-sex couples who can finally marry and have their relationships recognised as equal,” he said.
Same-sex marriages have been allowed in England, Scotland and Wales since 2014, but Stormont did not legalise them.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
