Stormont rejects gay marriage for third time

The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected gay marriage by an outright majority for the third time.

MLAs voted 51 to 43 today against redefining marriage. Pro-traditional marriage campaigners say those pushing for a change should “take the hint”.

Callum Webster, a spokesman for The Christian Institute, said: “The people of Northern Ireland are clearly opposed to redefining marriage and it’s only a political elite who are trying to force the change on the Province.”

“Elected representatives have voted three times in less than two years to keep marriage between a man and a woman, so those pushing for gay marriage should take the hint.”

“Just because politicians at Westminster have ridden roughshod over the opinions of hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens and redefined marriage, doesn’t mean Northern Ireland needs to follow suit”.

The Private Members’ Motion in support of same-sex marriage was tabled by six MLAs from the Alliance, Sinn Fein and Green parties, and called on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to introduce gay marriage legislation.

MLAs rejected same-sex marriage last year by 53 votes to 42, and in 2012 the plans were voted down 50 to 45.

Notes for editors:

The Christian Institute is a registered charity which seeks to be a Christian influence in a secular world. The organisation has campaigned against the introduction of same-sex marriage as part of the Coalition for Marriage umbrella group.

The Coalition for Marriage has a petition of over 668, 000 signatures, saying marriage is the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

The same-sex marriage motion voted on in Northern Ireland can be found here.