Another ‘milestone’ for NI as civil partnerships can be converted to marriages: First 17 couples to do so today

The change in the law has been described as a “sad day for Northern Ireland” by the South Down MLA Jim Wells, and an “important milestone in the campaign for marriage equality” by the Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

The first couple in Belfast to take advantage of the new law will be Cara McCann and her partner Amanda McGurk — both of whom helped lead the Love Equality campaign for same-sex marriage rights in Northern Ireland.

Cara is director of LGBT+ women’s organisation Here NI, while Amanda works for Cara Friend, an LGBT+ support organisation.

The couple entered a civil partnership on February 14 last year, but will officially become married in the eyes of the law through a registration process at Belfast City Hall today.

Later today, another of the leaders of the Love Equality campaign, Rainbow Project director John O’Doherty will become married to his partner Martin Toland following a ceremony at Lisburn Civic Centre.

Ahead of her wedding, Cara McCann said: “We fought long and hard for the right to marry and we are so looking forward to being an officially married couple.”

She continued: “We want to thank everyone who was part of this great movement for love and equality and which has delivered this wonderful, positive change for our society.”

John O’Doherty said: “With today’s weddings, we have reached the successful endpoint of our campaign to bring marriage equality to Northern Ireland.

“For the LGBT+ community, there are still more battles to be fought for equality, but today is a day of celebration, not just for us, but for everyone who marched with us.”

Sinn Fein MLA Mr Murphy said: Today is an important milestone in the campaign for marriage equality. There are over 1,300 same sex civil partnerships here. 17 couples are expected to convert their civil partnerships to marriages today with a total of 32 planned for this week. As a gesture of support I have waived the conversion fee for those couples and for all couples who wish to convert their civil partnership to a marriage for a full year.”

The minister added: “I would like to congratulate those couples who are converting their partnerships today and wish them a very happy life together.”

Mr Wells, meanwhile, had a different view.

“It is a sad day for Northern Ireland,” he said.

“We have undermined the sanctity of marriage in Northern Ireland for a small number of people whose rights and needs were already protected through civil partnerships.

“We have undermined one of the fundamental building blocks of a safe and stable society - marriage. Research shows that marriage is good for families, it’s good for society, good for the wellbeing of our community. And we’ve decided to undermine that for the sake of a small number of people.

“It’s my view that when a society undermines its basic building blocks of marriage, the family and the sanctity of life then that society inevitably suffers.

“These fundamental changes to the society of Northern Ireland were rushed through after 17 minutes of a debate in Parliament, with no consultation whatsoever with the people of Northern Ireland or their elected representatives.

“I have always maintained that the status of marriage should have been put to a referendum for the people of Northern Ireland to decide, after a full, intense and open debate - not rushed through late at night in Parliament.”

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, one of the leaders of the Love Equality coalition, said: “Today has been a long time coming. It has taken years of campaigning and the efforts of thousands of people to secure the law change which has allowed these loving couples to finally become married couples.

“The experience of the last decade tells us that, when we come together and stand up for what is right, we will prevail. That’s a lesson to apply to all the other problems and inequalities we face in this society.”