New threat to traditional marriage

Despite five attempts during the last Assembly MLAs consistently defended the true meaning of marriage, by an outright majority on four of those occasions.

Politicians from the Alliance Party, Sinn Fein and the SDLP have now tabled Private Members Bills to introduce same-sex marriage.

The Finance Minister, Martin O’Muilleoir, has also instructed his officials at Stormont to draft a Bill to redefine marriage.

Activists claim that because the meaning of marriage has been rewritten in Britain and the Republic of Ireland it should be redefined here too, but the current definition of marriage in Northern Ireland is in line with mainstream global opinion.

Only 20 of the 193 UN member states have taken the radical step of introducing homosexual marriage and only last week Bermuda voted 69% against introducing same-sex marriage.

Redefining marriage would change the meaning of marriage for everyone.

Schools will be forced to teach the new version to children. Public bodies will be legally required to promote the new definition and your freedom will be greatly undermined – consider what the Equality Commission has already done to Ashers Bakery.

A public consultation may soon be held on this issue and it is vital that supporters of traditional marriage respond and make their concerns known by, among other things, contacting their MLAs and asking them where they stand on this issue and if their views are not acceptable, informing them they will not be voted for again.

Will some politicians not accept that we vote them into power so they can represent our views and the majority of people in Northern Ireland do not want same-sex marriage?

Are these same politicans going to coerce or bully us into doing what they want?

Dr Owen Gallagher, Glenavy